Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [218]

As the mist dissipated, it was as though a long-fused firework had finally ignited. The Cloud Knights, full of vigor and dreams of valor, surged forward. Who among them didn’t yearn for the chance to make their mark?

Though they couldn’t join the larger campaigns against the Abundance's monstrosities, the task of eliminating their own traitorous kin was one they embraced wholeheartedly.

These traitors, who had betrayed their faith, inflicted suffering through forbidden practices, and sought to overthrow the Xianzhou’s order under the guise of pursuing immortality—no punishment short of flaying them alive could truly satisfy the knights’ righteous fury.

For some, this battle was deeply personal. A few of the Cloud Knights had seen their Vidyadhara friends and loved ones fall victim to the Abundance cultists. Those victims had returned as Vidyadhara eggs, reborn as entirely different people.

Some had once shared drinks and laughter, others were even on the verge of marriage. Yet, with a single encounter, their next meeting became their last. When they saw those familiar faces again, they had already turned to eggs, an eternal barrier between them.

The cruelest part? Their deaths weren’t at the hands of invading enemies—they were killed by their own people.

How could they not hate?

The remnants of the traitorous forces, who once clung to the hope of surrender, now faced nothing but slaughter. To the Cloud Knights, there was no room for mercy—only justice for the innocents they had harmed.

As the Disciple cultists’ defenses collapsed further and further, the knights hunted them down relentlessly, eradicating them to the last.

Meanwhile, Fu Xuan faced her own enemy—someone she once called a colleague, the chief alchemist of the Alchemy Commission: Dan Shu.

If not for the faint trace of a familiar aura clinging to her, Fu Xuan might not have recognized the figure standing before her. The once composed and human-like chief alchemist was now transformed into a being whose physical resilience and ethereal beauty rivaled that of a celestial.

"So this is the Form of Dew," Fu Xuan murmured, her voice laced with both disdain and curiosity. "The ancient records describe it as the pinnacle of immortality. To think the Abundance cultists have taken their forbidden arts this far—almost reaching the threshold… Heh. I’ll admit, I underestimated you. It’s thanks to that mistake that some of my Cloud Knights suffered needless casualties."

"You fools, bound by the limits of your mortal flesh, could never comprehend the Xianzhou’s predicament!" Dan Shu spat bitterly, coughing up fragments of her own innards. "This is a turning point in the Xianzhou’s long journey through the stars, one unlike anything in its history. The Hunt’s Aeon—what does that monster with a bow care about your hopes or lives? The only one who truly answers prayers is the merciful Abundance!"

Fu Xuan stepped forward slowly, her composure unshaken. Beneath her feet, her [Matrix of Prescience] spread outward, interlacing with auxiliary arrays she had prepared earlier.

"Mercy?" Fu Xuan scoffed. "You call it mercy when you extract Vidyadhara marrow and mix it with the consciousness of Xianzhou children as ingredients for your elixirs? Did you feel any pity then? Your resistance is meaningless."

A hulking marastruck, wielding a blade-spear, charged into the formation and aimed for Fu Xuan’s delicate neck. The blade should have cut clean through—yet, instead of slicing flesh, it passed through her body like a phantom.

Before the warrior could react, he found himself standing outside the formation, as if teleported. No matter how he moved—forward or back—he remained frozen in place, as though treading water.

With a single gesture, Fu Xuan conjured talismans that attached themselves to the warrior’s body. They detonated instantly, engulfing him in flames. His agonized screams lasted a mere ten seconds before his charred body collapsed, lifeless.

This marked the forty-seventh elite cultist Fu Xuan had personally dispatched. Each of them, once formidable, had fallen helplessly to her formation’s unrelenting might.

Dan Shu, along with fewer than twenty remaining followers, had been forced into retreat again and again. Now they were backed against one of the alchemical cauldrons, clearly intending to reactivate the mist at the cost of their lives, hoping to drag the Cloud Knights down with them.

Fu Xuan, observing their desperation, folded her arms and approached unhurriedly, her expression calm and relaxed. She made no move to stop them.

As expected, several cultists sent earlier by Dan Shu stumbled back to her. Only two remained alive, both severely injured and barely able to stand.

"P-Prime Leader!" one of them stammered, their face pale with terror. "The cauldrons—they’ve already been taken! Those damned outsiders have seized them! Our brothers… they’re all dead!"

Dan Shu’s expression darkened. She inhaled deeply, her voice heavy with resignation. "I understand…"

Their last hope of survival had been dashed. Forget reactivating the cauldrons—they couldn’t even hope to drive out the enemy forces. With reinforcements surely on the way, they were now trapped in a dead-end, encircled by their pursuers.

This was their death ground, and Dan Shu knew it. There was no salvation here, only annihilation.

The words had barely left her lips when five figures emerged from behind her. These were all faces Dan Shu knew well—including the young man at their head.

The moment her eyes met his, her last shred of composure crumbled. She stared at him, trembling, her voice breaking.

"Chen… Why are you here? Are you here to kill me too?"

Fu Xuan, of course, was aware of Chen Lin’s undercover operation within the Disciple Sanctus. She also knew that Dan Shu had trusted him enough to hand him the cult’s leadership token.

But the others didn’t know this.

For a moment, the weight of every gaze fell upon Chen Lin. He felt a twinge of guilt, especially when March 7 gasped dramatically in disbelief.

"Chen! You—! Wait, do you like older women?!" she exclaimed. "You traitorous flirt!"

Dan Shu’s anguish, her regret, and the raw pain of betrayal painted a vivid picture in March 7’s mind. Her wildly inappropriate conclusion somehow resonated with the group. Even Welt Yang glanced at Chen Lin with subtle suspicion.

"…Don’t let your imagination run wild," Chen Lin muttered, clamping a hand over March 7’s mouth. He turned his gaze to Dan Shu, whose unfamiliar appearance still held traces of her former self.

"Why wouldn’t I be here?" he asked, his tone calm. "The General of the Xianzhou is my sworn brother, and the Master Diviner Fu Xuan is my sworn sister. I was entrusted to assist in apprehending criminals. What’s wrong with that?"

Dan Shu let out a bitter laugh. "I just… I just didn’t want to believe it. I trusted you…"

"And now you think this is where you try to justify yourself?" Chen Lin retorted sharply. "Let me be clear: I’m a Cloud Knight. From the moment we stood on opposite sides, any friendship we might have had ceased to exist."

"So… it was all one-sided… from the start," Dan Shu whispered, her voice hollow.

Fu Xuan’s voice cut sharply through the air, her tone laced with disdain. "The righteousness of my brother is not something lowly, despicable people like you could ever comprehend. Now, will you surrender yourselves to justice, or do I have to dirty my hands? I warn you—don’t bother with your pitiful curses or sorcery. You, Dan Shu, should already know they’re useless against me."

Having delivered her warning, Fu Xuan shot a glare at Chen Lin.

Her younger brother was dependable in every way—except for his absurd knack for attracting trouble, especially when it came to women. He was like a magnet, inexplicably drawing in all sorts.

Could he really not see how old Dan Shu was? She had been the Chief Alchemist long before Fu Xuan was even born! At this rate, she was nearly showing signs of mara corruption, yet Chen Lin still managed to provoke her interest?

Fu Xuan chewed on her thumbnail, inwardly resolving to keep a closer eye on her brother’s behavior. If word got out, people might accuse her, the Master Diviner of the Luofu, of failing to properly discipline her own family.

Dan Shu’s cold laugh broke through her thoughts. "Indeed, the [Xuanqi Devourment] technique is useless against the Diviner’s methods. I’ve already accepted that resistance is futile," she said, shaking her head. "For so long, I assumed the Divination Commission was nothing more than a band of glorified fortune-tellers. It seems I’ve been far too narrow-minded in my old age."

"Divination techniques naturally counter malevolent forces. To be immune to curses and hexes is only expected. How does it feel, reaping the consequences of your own actions?" Fu Xuan retorted.

Dan Shu let out a bitter laugh. "I could say the same to you. Blocked meridians and mental fatigue—you can’t keep using your powers like this without worsening your condition. If I’d succeeded earlier, you’d already be a cripple by now."

"You—!"

Even though Fu Xuan had prepared for this battle, Dan Shu’s initial strike had still caught her off guard. Still, her injuries were minor compared to Dan Shu’s. If necessary, she could push through and kill her opponent outright.

Dan Shu, however, sneered. "Do you think I’m so weak that I have nothing left to try?"

"And what exactly do you have left?" Fu Xuan raised her hand, summoning talismans that appeared around the remaining cultists. With a single gesture, she could send them all to their deaths.

While Dan Shu’s words sounded defiant, they rang hollow—nothing more than the last gasp of someone on the verge of death.

But Chen Lin and Phantylia, hidden among the group, understood exactly what was happening.

Dan Shu wasn’t stalling for time or trying to win. She was signaling Phantylia—calling for the Destruction Envoy to intervene.

Phantylia’s voice echoed telepathically through the temporary psionic link Chen Lin had established via the [Zroni Nexus].

"Master, your insight is unparalleled," she said with mock reverence. "These fools have no idea of the gap between us. They actually thought appealing to me would save them—pathetic."

Her tone was dripping with ridicule. Among all the Envoys, few could rival Phantylia in sheer power—though Chen Lin’s ability to manipulate her still remained an exception.

On the battlefield, Dan Shu seethed with anger, her voice trembling. "She gave us the Stellaron! She promised the Arbor’s arrival would grant us eternal life! If that’s true, then all I need is a few days of rest to recover. But now, so many of the Abundance cultists have died—she lied to us!"

"Pu—!"

Chen Lin couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. Fortunately, the chaotic scene masked his reaction, so no one seemed to notice.

Through the psionic link, he said dryly, "You really told them anything just to get the Arbor working, didn’t you?"

Phantylia, hidden at the rear of the group, shrugged playfully. "What can I say? They’re gullible. I barely had to try. I had prepared all sorts of bargaining chips, but it turns out all I needed was a casual promise, and they jumped at it without hesitation."

She added with a smirk, "Oh, and I never promised them control of the Luofu once their plan succeeded. They’re fools if they assumed otherwise."

Phantylia’s enticing promises had perfectly exploited the Abundance cultists’ deepest desires. As someone who had infiltrated their ranks, Chen Lin knew this better than anyone.

Her conditions aligned perfectly with their obsession with immortality. Those who joined the cult did so because they feared death and craved eternal life. How could they resist such an alluring promise, especially when backed by the enigmatic Stellaron?

Chen Lin transmitted one final thought through the link. "Looks like she’s going to force your hand. Stick to your original plan."

"Of course, Master~" Phantylia purred.

Dan Shu’s delusions of grandeur were destined to end in ruin. Even without Chen Lin’s interference, the Abundance cult was doomed from the start. Phantylia had used them as pawns, knowing full well they would be wiped out when their usefulness ran out.

Fu Xuan scoffed. "So, in the end, you’re just not strong enough to beat me. It doesn’t matter what you say—I’ll get what I need out of you one way or another."

"No need," Dan Shu interrupted, her laughter growing wild. "Phantylia! The Arbor has awakened! It’s time for you to fulfill your promise. Use the Diviner and the Empire’s Governor as stepping stones to return the Luofu to the embrace of the Abundance!"

Fu Xuan’s heart sank.

Phantylia?!

Her mind raced as the pieces clicked into place. So the Abundance cult had been working with the Destruction Envoy all along? It all made sense—the chaos, the cult’s boldness, the Stellaron’s presence.

But despite the revelation, Fu Xuan sensed no trace of Phantylia’s aura. Even so, she immediately reinforced the array beneath their feet, her sharp eyes locked on Dan Shu.

If it were any other Destruction Envoy, Fu Xuan would have no chance. But Phantylia, the weakest in physical combat, was a different story. Fu Xuan’s divination arts were particularly effective against spiritual entities, giving her confidence she could hold her ground.

At that moment, "Tingyun" let out a soft sigh. Phantylia, still in her disguise, casually adjusted her fan and began walking toward Dan Shu.

"Miss Tingyun!" March 7 called out, reaching a hand to stop her. But Chen Lin quickly grabbed March and pulled her back.

Fu Xuan watched silently, her face calm but her mind a storm of thoughts.

Phantylia shook her head. "You thought calling for me would save you? How foolish. Salvation comes from within, not from others."

Dan Shu’s eyes widened. "W-what are you saying?"

"Exactly what it sounds like."

Black smoke coiled around Phantylia’s hands before erupting into a massive explosion. The smoke surged forward, pouring into the mouths and noses of the cultists. When the smoke cleared, the Abundance cultists were gone—replaced by Void Constructs.

The Cloud Knights, having just arrived, stared in stunned silence.

"Did… did the cultists turn into Void Constructs?!"

"Wait, wasn’t she with the Sky-Faring Division? What’s going on?!"

"Could the Sky-Faring Division be connected to the Disciple Sanctus cult?"

"Enough!" Fu Xuan’s commanding voice cut through the panic. "Stay calm! Hold your positions!"

High above, a glowing orb of light zipped away, Phantylia’s voice echoing through the air.

"To my benefactor and all present—allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Phantylia, Destruction Envoy. I’ve come to ensure the Luofu’s self-destruction. But alas, I have other matters to attend to. Please, enjoy playing with these toys in the meantime.

"With the blessings of both Abundance and Destruction, survival is simple—just kill everyone here. Good luck, my little pawns. Hehehe…"

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T/N: hmm...should I change envoy...? i mean its not wrongggg right? hahaha./...

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!