Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [219]

With the combined regenerative powers of the Abundance and the destructive strength of Destruction, Phantylia’s hastily created minions posed a serious threat to the ordinary Cloud Knights. These so-called "playthings" could easily take on ten opponents at once.

The Cloud Knights, who had been gleefully hunting down the Disciple cultists moments earlier, quickly realized something was amiss. Even when they formed defensive formations to surround a single transformed cultist, a slight misstep would see their defenses shattered, and the resulting shockwave would send them flying several meters.

Only a few battle-hardened commanders who had participated in the Xianzhou’s wars beyond the stars could barely hold their ground using superior numbers. Yet even so, the situation looked grim.

Chen Lin stepped forward, his tone calm but commanding. "Sis, you’re injured. It’s unwise for you to fight right now. Have the soldiers fall back—I’ll handle this."

"I’m not—" Fu Xuan started to protest, but the subtle tension in her body betrayed her. Realizing her current state was indeed less than ideal, she decided to yield. Besides, she was curious to see how far Chen Lin’s newly awakened swordsmanship had progressed.

She waved her hand and ordered, "All units, disengage! Clear the area!"

The exhausted commanders barely had time to react as one of them was sent flying by a powerful kick. With the Cloud Knights withdrawing from the battle, the frontline suddenly emptied, leaving Chen Lin standing alone.

A long sword descended from the [Zroni Nexus] floating over his shoulder, and he caught it with a fluid motion.

Chen Lin spun the blade in his palm, the gleaming sword tip tracing a crescent arc in the air. The sharp glint radiated an ominous aura, causing the Void Constructs—who had been ready to press their advantage—to hesitate. Their grotesque faces twisted as they stared at the approaching young man.

Among the Cloud Knights, Li Sushang pushed her way to the front, her amber eyes sparkling with anticipation. At the Stellar Sea Port, she had only caught brief glimpses of her master’s swordsmanship amidst the chaos. Now, she could finally watch him fight up close. Her bloodstained face flushed with excitement, and she held her breath, eyes unblinking.

Chen Lin suddenly moved. To the watching crowd, his form seemed to blur momentarily, as if vanishing for a split second, before reappearing in front of the Void Constructs.

His movements were elegant yet unpredictable, each step seemingly random but following a hidden rhythm. His sword, glowing with a mix of azure and violet light, unleashed countless arcs of energy that spread like an endless tide.

In that moment, the battlefield beneath the alchemical cauldron resembled a stormy sea, the sword energy rolling and crashing like towering waves.

Light pollution...

The thought struck every onlooker’s mind simultaneously as they stared at the blinding spectacle.

Chen Lin weaved through the ranks of the Void Constructs without restraint, his lithe figure cutting through them effortlessly. Few could even react to the sudden bursts of sword light. Those who managed to defend themselves found no respite—Chen Lin would spring backward, raise his empty hand, and summon a massive purple sword projection out of thin air. The ethereal blade would pierce one Construct before another materialized, slashing through the next.

The Astral Express crew watched calmly, having seen this display during their earlier infiltration. However, Fu Xuan and her Cloud Knights were stunned.

One dazed commander murmured, "So Lord Chen is a master swordsman? He’s always so humble and unassuming, but when his sword comes out, it’s death every time. Truly a role model for all warriors…"

Another commander, gripping his own sword, glanced between his blade and the battlefield, where the lingering afterglow of Chen Lin’s sword energy illuminated the corpses. He muttered, "Judging by the sharpness of his sword aura and projections… Lord Chen’s sword heart has already reached the Pathbreaking level… By the heavens, why isn’t Lord Chen a Xianzhou native?!"

"Captain."

"Yes?"

"I think I’ve fallen in love again."

"Snap out of it! Lord Chen’s fame will spread far and wide after this battle. Do you think you could compete with all those rivals? Besides, aren’t you already married?"

"Oh… Right. I almost forgot about that."

The captain groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.

At the vanguard, Li Sushang rubbed her cheeks as her amber eyes sparkled like stars. She clenched her fists, silently making a vow.

One day, I’ll stand before the Cloud Knights like Master—unrivaled and awe-inspiring. I’ll make my name known across the Xianzhou!

Mother, your daughter has truly found an incredible master here on the Luofu…

There had been about twenty Disciple cultists turned into Void Constructs by Phantylia. A few were eliminated by March 7 and the others at the start of the battle, but the remaining foes still posed a significant challenge.

Had the Astral Express crew chosen to stand by, Fu Xuan would have been forced to either risk worsening her internal injuries to fight or watch as the Constructs slaughtered the Cloud Knights. Both outcomes were unacceptable to her.

The fight lasted barely ten seconds. By the time the dust settled, every Void Construct lay dead or critically wounded, their bodies strewn across the ground. Even those clinging to life were too broken to fight again.

Amidst the pile of corpses, Chen Lin casually tossed his sword into the [Zroni Nexus] as it opened to receive it. Turning back to Fu Xuan, he walked over, saw her dumbfounded expression, and gave her a cheeky wink.

"Sis, how did I do?"

"You…" Fu Xuan coughed awkwardly, cutting herself off mid-word. After regaining her composure, she said, "This outcome? I could have easily done the same. Your swordsmanship is fluid and graceful, but you show off too much. You still need refinement. That said… I’m pleased to see my dear brother take the initiative to protect the Cloud Knights."

"Chen Lin!" March 7 interrupted, storming over to grab his shoulders. Her eyes were wide with panic. "What’s going on with Miss Tingyun?! How could she be the Destruction Envoy?!"

Behind her, Welt sighed deeply. "I’ll admit, it’s hard to accept."

Even Stelle tugged on Chen Lin’s sleeve, her quiet demeanor concealing a lingering suspicion. She had noticed "Tingyun’s" odd behavior before and had even brought it up with Chen Lin—only for him to dismiss her concerns outright.

"Chen… Lin…"

Chen Lin, as the orchestrator of this scenario, wasn’t particularly surprised. Still, he feigned mild shock as he glanced at Fu Xuan. "Unexpected, but not beyond belief. Right, Sis?"

Fu Xuan nodded thoughtfully. "As you said, it’s still within the realm of reason. Once I learned the invader wasn’t an Abundance emissary but the Destruction Envoy Phantylia, I knew capturing her before the situation escalated would be impossible. Our only option was to wait for her to reveal herself."

"But Miss Tingyun just walked up, turned into a glowing ball of light, and declared herself the Destruction Envoy!" March 7 exclaimed, her arms flailing in frustration. "How is that within reason?!"

"Young lady, calm yourself," Fu Xuan said sharply. "I’ve said before that I suspected this, and I don’t make baseless claims."

Seeing March 7’s disbelief, Fu Xuan softened her tone, explaining, "The Destruction Envoy once used a fragment of itself to invade my brother’s mind. From that alone, it was clear it had deep insight into your every move. Since that moment, I suspected Phantylia was lurking nearby.

"But with more pressing matters at hand, confronting her too soon would have driven her into hiding. Better to let her remain in this gray area, limiting her interference, rather than risk her striking from the shadows and making an already tenuous situation even worse."

Fu Xuan crossed her arms, her gaze narrowing. "I mentioned my suspicions to the General. He appeared to agree but, as I later discovered, called a private meeting with my dear brother as soon as I left."

At this, she shot Chen Lin an accusing glare.

"Even though I have no idea what they discussed, my divination revealed that this confrontation with the cultists would draw out the real threat. Perhaps it would be a Cloud Knight, or a rogue cultist, or even Tingyun, who was sent to guide you under the General’s orders. Whatever the case, I was prepared.

"Now that Phantylia has revealed herself, she’s lost the chance to strike from the shadows. Her actions signal that the opportunity she’s been waiting for—the key to her plans—is finally within reach."

The sheer weight of Fu Xuan’s explanation left March 7 dazed, her mind struggling to process it all.

"But… isn’t the whole point of a Destruction Envoy just to destroy things? What could be more important to her than that?"

"That’s a superficial understanding." Fu Xuan sighed. "Young lady, it seems you’re not suited to analyzing intelligence."

Through the fading black smoke, Phantylia’s radiant form gleamed like a beacon in the darkness. Fu Xuan watched her retreating figure intently, piecing together the scattered fragments of the situation.

"The DIsciple Sanctus is defeated, and Phantylia—recorded in Xianzhou history as one of the Destruction Envoys—has revealed herself. Her nature as a spiritual entity makes it difficult, if not impossible, for her to physically destroy the Xianzhou. Unless…"

"Unless what?" March 7 leaned in, hanging on Fu Xuan’s every word.

"Unless she acquires a body capable of containing the full power of Destruction. With such a vessel, she could wield her abilities to obliterate the Xianzhou entirely."

Fu Xuan’s tone grew grim as she continued. "It’s now clear why the Disciple Sanctus was deceived into reviving the Arbor. Phantylia’s true goal has always been to awaken the Arbor and claim it as her physical vessel. By merging Destruction and Abundance, she can create an immortal body capable of annihilating the Xianzhou."

Chen Lin’s gaze flickered briefly.

Among those present, he alone had full knowledge of Phantylia’s schemes. He had withheld critical information from Fu Xuan, and yet her deductions were uncannily accurate. Her strategic insight was truly exceptional.

Still, Fu Xuan’s thoughts drifted elsewhere, and her brow furrowed. "But there’s one thing that troubles me: Tingyun’s body is missing. I fear the Sky-Faring Division may have been infiltrated by Phantylia, and that her influence has already spread. If so, she could exploit the current chaos to sow further discord across the Xianzhou."

Chen Lin stepped in to reassure her. "Sis, there’s no need to worry. I’ve heard the General mention that the Sky-Faring Division’s leader was once a skilled warrior. If there really is a traitor within their ranks, I’m confident they can handle it."

Chen Lin understood Phantylia’s tactics well. She thrived on exploiting information gaps, using paranoia and infighting to buy herself time.

But in this case, he knew she hadn’t targeted the Sky-Faring Division at all. There was no need to fear a fire in their rear lines.

"Right now," Chen Lin continued, "our top priority is to contact the General and inform him of the situation. We need to prepare to stop Phantylia at all costs."

"Don’t mention him!" Fu Xuan snapped, her frustration boiling over. "Ever since I spoke to him via the [Matrix of Prescience], I haven’t been able to contact him again. He’s completely disappeared! The only thing he left me was a single message: ‘A rare opportunity has arisen that demands my personal attention. You have full authority to act in my stead.’ And that’s it! What kind of General abandons his post at a time like this?!"

Chen Lin stifled a chuckle, though he couldn’t entirely fault Fu Xuan for her anger. If he didn’t know Jing Yuan’s character, even he might have suspected the General of abandoning ship.

After a moment of thought, Chen Lin offered, "I’m sure the General has his reasons for acting this way. But putting all the responsibility on you is unfair. Sis, don’t let this get to you. Without your leadership, we’d all be lost. The situation would spiral out of control."

Fu Xuan’s irritation melted under the praise, and a faint smile crept onto her face. After clearing her throat, she declared, "You flatter me, dear brother. But you’re right—our next move must be to intercept Phantylia before she can tamper with the Arbor in the Linxuan Expanse. If we fail, the consequences will be catastrophic."

Chen Lin knew exactly how to handle Fu Xuan. Over the time they’d spent together, he’d learned that a little flattery went a long way. No matter how foul her mood, a well-placed compliment could always lift her spirits.

"Are we taking the star skiff?" he asked.

Fu Xuan nodded thoughtfully. "Of course. I’ll arrange for a barge to take us directly to the Linxuan Expanse. The Cloud Knights will follow as reinforcements."

With that, she strode off toward the nearest dock. As Chen Lin prepared to follow, Stelle approached, holding out her phone.

"Chen… Dan Heng messaged me. He said he found a star skiff willing to smuggle him through. He’s asking where we are now. Should I tell him we’re at the Alchemy Commission?"

"Hmm? Let me see."

Taking the phone, Chen Lin quickly scanned through the messages.

It didn’t take him long to notice a pattern: Dan Heng had been trying to contact Stelle since the day before, but most of his messages had failed to send. Their conversation repeatedly cut off just as Stelle sent him their location, leaving Dan Heng stuck in a frustrating loop.

Piecing it together, Chen Lin realized what had likely happened. Every time Dan Heng managed to pinpoint their location, the team had already moved to a new one. He had probably been chasing them all over the Xianzhou—from the Divination Commission to the Alchemy Commission and beyond.

What a ridiculous coincidence…

Chen Lin’s eye twitched slightly. If his guess was correct, the communication failures were no accident. They were likely caused by a certain "playful yet incompetent" entity—no doubt related to the Stellaron Hunters’ so-called "script."

After a brief moment of thought, Chen Lin quickly composed a reply to Dan Heng.

Not long after, the star skiff docked, and Fu Xuan called for everyone to board. The group began boarding, preparing to head for the Linxuan Expanse.

Everyone, except Chen Lin.

---

T/N: Linxuan Expanse? too lazy to search up what it could be...

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!