Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [221]

This was a place shrouded in dim light. Although the sky above was clear, the area near the Abyssal Depths remained overcast, with clouds drifting lazily. The restless ocean shimmered in fleeting bursts of light and shadow, weaving through the ethereal mist that permeated the landscape.

Leaving Li Sushang and Jing Yuan on the Starskiff, the perplexed Chen Lin set foot on this isolated land.

Activating his psionic vision, Chen Lin surveyed the terrain from above, finally discerning the full scope of the entrance to the Abyssal Depths.

Twisted roots sprawled across the moss-covered ground, while vivid coral and various moisture-loving plants clung to the area. The cracked, rectangular tiles of what once might have been a paved surface lay in disarray; in some places, the tiles were missing altogether, leaving only dirt and opportunistic ferns sprouting through the gaps.

It was as though a city, destroyed by catastrophe and submerged beneath the sea for millennia, had suddenly reemerged. Intricately carved stone columns, now leaning and broken, obstructed the paths, painting the scene of an ancient ruin rediscovered after eons.

The labyrinthine passages were narrow and chaotic, with some pathways barely wide enough for a single person. Ignoring these obstacles, Chen Lin quickly located Dan Heng navigating the ruins with ease. In another direction, he also spotted Yanqing, who seemed utterly lost, wandering in circles without realizing it.

And then, there was someone else—a person Chen Lin had encountered just the night before—waiting silently in the open area beyond the ruins.

“Huh, a real mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind situation here,” Chen Lin chuckled to himself as his vision refocused on the scene before him.

If his calculations were correct, Dan Heng would soon run into the Stellaron Hunter lying in wait. Of particular interest to Chen Lin was the man called Blade.

Before Dan Heng had left the Astral Express, he had warned Chen Lin to be wary of Blade—a man consumed by bloodlust, dangerous in the extreme. Dan Heng had advised him to avoid Blade whenever possible.

Chen Lin had been in a hurry then and hadn’t pressed for details. Ultimately, it was Welt who had filled in the blanks.

Even before Chen Lin had crossed into this world, Dan Heng had often encountered Blade during his expeditions, each time facing relentless pursuit. Despite Dan Heng’s survival skills—occasionally even managing to counter-kill Blade—the man always came back, as if resurrected, haunting Dan Heng like a vengeful specter. Time and again, Blade ambushed him, leaving Dan Heng with more than a few close calls, one of which nearly cost him his life.

When Chen Lin had asked about the cause of this grudge, Welt had only shrugged, noting that Dan Heng himself didn’t recall much of his past before leaving the Xianzhou. The most Dan Heng could manage were fragmented dreams, hinting at vague connections to the Xianzhou Alliance.

This was why, when Jing Yuan mentioned a former acquaintance from the Xianzhou and asked for Chen Lin’s assistance, Chen Lin had suspected a hidden motive.

Especially when Jing Yuan referred to the High Elder of the Vidyadhara, Yingyue-jun, Chen Lin couldn’t help but entertain a bold theory—was Dan Heng the “old friend” Jing Yuan was referring to?

But the problem lay in the fact that Dan Heng exhibited no physical traits of the Vidyadhara. The Vidyadhara were dragon-like in appearance, earning the moniker “Vidyadhara Dragonborn,” but none of these characteristics were present in Dan Heng.

Lacking evidence, Chen Lin had shelved the idea for now.

Returning to the present, the area near this modest entrance to the Abyssal Depths had drawn quite the crowd: the Stellaron Hunters still under bounty, Dan Heng seeking to regroup with the Astral Express, the brash and fearless Yanqing, Jing Yuan, the General of the Xianzhou Luofu, and himself, operating under the guise of an Imperial Governor.

“Kafka’s not here, huh… Well, fine. If Dan Heng’s made it this far through these perilous ruins, he’ll probably run into Blade soon. Those two seem destined to clash, given their grudge. And when the fight starts, Yanqing might find his way out of this maze by following the sound… So, what should I do?”

Chen Lin took a deep breath, recalling Jing Yuan’s request to mentor Yanqing, and began pondering how best to make his entrance.

After a long pause, he sighed and muttered, “I’ll just wait and see. I wonder what that guy’s waiting for—it’s been ages without any sign of movement…”

---

Everyone sees the world differently.

March 7th, no matter the situation, could quickly regain her playful, carefree demeanor, facing everything with an innocent smile. For her, the world must look pink and vibrant.

Chen Lin, burdened by his heavy mission and longing for his homeland, treaded a path paved with blood. To him, the world was likely a deep, crimson red.

And me?

To Dan Heng, everything about this place felt foreign, yet inexplicably familiar—like a traveler returning home after a long absence. Despite the Abyssal Depths being desolate and abandoned, he navigated its complex paths as if guided by instinct.

In some ineffable way, it felt like this place was where he belonged. After all, it was where he had been born. And yet, it felt like a place he should never return to, for he was a Vidyadhara in exile.

Whoosh—

The damp sea breeze whispered past his ears, and with every step forward, the air grew colder. Parting the dried water plants in front of him, Dan Heng suddenly came face-to-face with someone he would rather not meet here.

Startled seabirds fled in a flurry of wings, while through the mist, a man glared at Dan Heng with unrelenting intensity. The twin blades at his waist glimmered with a crimson sheen. Even at a distance of several dozen meters, Dan Heng could taste the thick scent of blood in the air.

“You’ve arrived… I’ve waited too long. And that ever-intensifying feeling—it's here now!” Blade clutched his head, veins bulging on the back of his hand as he trembled with barely restrained fury. “You must pay the price… Why is it that you can forget so easily, while I’m condemned to eternal torment for this?”

“…”

Dan Heng’s initial tension gave way to calm. He fixed his gaze on the approaching Blade and said, “I’ve told you many times—I’m Dan Heng. I don’t know you, nor do I remember what happened on the Xianzhou before my exile.”

“Oh? Hahaha…” Blade let out a laugh, as if Dan Heng’s words were the punchline to a cruel joke. “Does it matter? The truth has become history on the Xianzhou, unchangeable and irrevocable. So the only thing left is for you to pay the price in another way!”

“He was him. I am me. I have no reason to repay the debts of a past life—”

Before he could finish, Blade, who had been several meters away, suddenly disappeared. The sound of rushing wind alerted Dan Heng to his presence, and his body reacted before his mind could catch up.

Dan Heng leapt backward as Blade’s sword descended, drawing his spear to parry the blow.

Blade’s face appeared mere inches from Dan Heng’s shoulder, his lifeless eyes boring into him like a venomous serpent.

“Everyone else remembers. Why is it that you, the one responsible, get to forget so easily?!”

The desolate ruins, the bone-chilling sea breeze, and the mournful howl of wind through the crevices bore witness to the clash of former companions, now enemies…

Clang—Thud!

Momentarily distracted by his urgency to reunite with the Astral Express crew, Dan Heng fell prey to one of Blade’s feints. Though he barely deflected what appeared to be a lethal strike, it left him open to a swift kick to the stomach.

If someone had taken a snapshot at that moment, they might have seen Dan Heng’s abdomen sink dramatically under the force of the blow. He was sent flying several meters before crashing to the ground.

“Cough…”

Shaking, Dan Heng struggled to his feet. The searing pain in his organs clouded his vision, and he swayed unsteadily, leaving himself utterly exposed.

“Finally, you’re at my mercy. Time to die—huh?”

Blade prepared to press his advantage but suddenly halted, his expression souring as a flying sword narrowly missed his chest, embedding itself into the ground.

“Tch…”

Blade glanced toward the source of the attack, where Yanqing leaped down from a fallen stone pillar. Folding his arms, Yanqing sneered, “A criminal’s still a criminal. Killing and mayhem wherever you go, huh? Let me make this clear: you’re not killing anyone today. There’s a spot in the Confinement Array waiting just for you!”

“The General’s little lackey… Hasn’t Jing Yuan taught you to pick your battles?”

Unfazed by the interruption, Blade tightened his grip on his swords. However, his focus remained on Dan Heng, who was slowly regaining his composure.

“You’d better hurry up. Otherwise, your friends will be in danger. Funny, isn’t it? The greatest threat in a forbidden zone… is one of your own.”

“…”

Dan Heng wiped the blood trickling down his temple, his eyes growing cold. Glaring at Blade, whose crimson blades seemed to glow with malice, Dan Heng spoke with icy determination.

“I’ll kill you again, just like before. Then, I’ll help them.”

---

As Dan Heng raised his spear once more, a battle erupted, filling the ruins with the cacophony of clashing blades and echoing impacts. From a high vantage point, Chen Lin observed the chaos below, his thoughts whirling.

"I’ve told you many times—I’m Dan Heng. I don’t know you, nor do I remember what happened on the Xianzhou before my exile."

Chen Lin frowned. Dan Heng… How could he possibly be Vidyadhara?

For the first time, Chen Lin doubted the very records and lore he had always trusted about the Xianzhou Alliance.

But his musings were cut short as the fight below took a deadly turn. Blade, laughing maniacally, took a direct hit from one of Yanqing’s swords. Ignoring his own injuries, he exploited the moment to land a devastating blow on Dan Heng, driving his blade deep into his opponent’s body.

---

This is a fan translation of 在星穹铁道点群星科技树真的没问题吗? by 杏雨诗韵 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!