Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [217]

The mist’s effect worked only on Xianzhou natives imbued with the Abundance’s power. For outsiders, it posed no threat whatsoever. Its primary function seemed to be the preemptive stimulation of the Abundance energy within the Xianzhou people, accelerating their descent into marastruck.

The Alchemy Commission, which had reached its peak during the age of the Abundance, remained the largest and most labyrinthine of the Six Commissions, even after Xianzhou aligned itself with the Hunt. Despite centuries of decline, its vast, intricate network of hidden chambers and passages still stood.

The Astral Express crew, already well-acquainted with the area’s layout, quickly identified an under-guarded route to slip through.

Thwack!

A heavy strike landed.

Bang!

"Ah-MINOS!"

The sound of Stelle’s voice echoed, her gibberish as incomprehensible as ever. Darting out from behind a rock, she swung her bat again and again, smashing the heads of two patrolling Disciple cultists. With no intention of holding back, she left splattered mixtures of red and white across the ground.

Still not satisfied, she grabbed her bat and pounded their corpses a few more times until they were nothing but unrecognizable masses of flesh.

Having fought marastrucks before, Stelle knew that these abominations could be frustratingly resilient. If you didn’t go all in, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t spring back to life and stab you in the back. So, she made sure to use the safest and most thorough approach—complete obliteration.

Elsewhere, the other members of the group executed their respective targets with precision.

March 7’s archery skills were remarkable. She wielded her longbow as if it were a rapid-fire crossbow, her arrows striking true. Each hit froze the corrupted cultists solid, locking them in icy prisons they would never escape without external intervention.

Chen Lin’s approach was even simpler. He opened several entrances to the [Zroni Nexus] and sent out replicas of swords he had crafted inside. The projectiles pierced through the marastrucks with ease. Using telekinesis, he commanded one of the blades to decapitate a cultist, watching as the headless body crumpled to the ground.

Meanwhile, not far away, Welt Yang stood still, lightly tapping his cane. A faint tremor rippled through the space around him. Before the nearby cultists could even register what had happened, their bodies suddenly disintegrated—no blood, no corpses, no trace of their existence remained. The Disciple cultists had vanished into thin air.

Chen Lin, sensing the terrifying energy emanating from behind him, switched to his psionic sight. The moment he saw the source, his pupils shrank, and a chill ran down his spine.

So that’s why Himeko once said that even if the Xianzhou refused to welcome the Astral Express, no one would dare stop Welt if he decided to leave with us.

If Chen Lin’s eyes hadn’t deceived him, the space around Welt had momentarily fractured and collapsed before rapidly returning to its original state.

This was the first time Chen Lin had seen Welt go all out against an enemy. Back at Herta Space Station, Welt had shown restraint when fighting Kafka, aiming only to incapacitate her by breaking her limbs. The impact of that skirmish paled in comparison to the sheer devastation he was now unleashing.

Did he just create a black hole and restore it instantly?

Chen Lin had plenty of methods for destruction, but restoration? That was beyond him.

No wonder Jing Yuan once complained about how the Astral Express gained its galactic reputation—not just for its interstellar travels but because anyone plotting against it inevitably ended up with tombstones taller than skyscrapers.

Chen Lin recalled some of Welt’s stories about joining the Astral Express. Welt had once joked that he’d been “fished out” by Himeko. Normally composed and dignified, Welt was the perfect uncle figure in the group. But now Chen Lin realized his calm demeanor belied his ruthless efficiency in battle.

Adjusting his glasses, Welt glanced at the scattered remains around him and said, "The Divination Commission has already started their operation. We need to move quickly. Stelle, March—clear the path. If there are only a few enemies, handle them quietly. Chen and I will follow."

"Got it! Leave it to us," March 7 replied.

Just as she was about to move, she froze mid-step, noticing Tingyun casually walking around the corner.

"Miss Tingyun, there’s no need for you to come here. We’ve got the path memorized already. Why not wait for our good news back at camp?" March asked.

Tingyun laughed softly, hiding her expression behind her fan. "Oh, my dear, I’m simply following orders. The General and Master Diviner Fu Xuan both instructed me to guide you to the very end. How could I disobey?"

Her tone was light, even carrying a hint of admiration. "Besides, with esteemed benefactors like you handling these small fry so effortlessly, little old me can just stay behind and avoid injury."

Welt frowned. "This is dangerous, Miss Tingyun. You don’t need to push yourself. We’ll explain the situation to the General and Master Diviner Fu Xuan."

Tingyun shrugged playfully, but Chen Lin noticed that her gaze kept lingering on him.

"No need to trouble yourselves," she said with a chuckle. "Despite my years of navigating the cosmos, I’m still relatively inexperienced—barely more than a decade of real-life experience, if I’m being honest. Who knows, you might all be older than me!"

"..."

After a brief silence, Welt sighed and said, "Very well. Stay behind March and Stelle."

"Understood~"

"No problem! I’ll protect you, Miss Tingyun!" March said confidently before suddenly pausing. "Wait, if the mist doesn’t affect Foxians, couldn’t Foxians handle this instead of us?"

Phantylia, still in disguise, froze for a moment before quickly replying, "Foxians may not be affected, but we lack your skills. Skilled warriors are few and far between among us, and most have long since left the Luofu. If you’re looking for someone truly capable, only Lord Sushang comes to mind. But even she couldn’t handle this alone."

"That’s true," March nodded. "Alright, stick close, Miss Tingyun. We won’t let anything happen to you!"

With that, March and Stelle took the lead, their lighthearted chatter making it seem more like a spring outing than a covert mission. Tingyun followed at a leisurely pace until she too disappeared from sight.

"Hm?"

Chen Lin cast a suspicious glance at Welt. Noticing his gaze, Welt gave him a slight nod.

"Chen, come here for a moment."

"Sure."

Chen Lin flicked the blood off his sword, dismissed it back into the Zroni Nexus, and walked over. "What’s up, Uncle Yang?"

"I have a bad feeling about this whole situation with the Xianzhou and the Stellaron. The sudden appearance of the Disciple cultists seems too coincidental," Welt began. "I’ve been hearing rumors about them lately, and I don’t think they’re the remnants of the cult that the Xianzhou supposedly eradicated. Someone else is likely using their name, possibly with outside backing."

Pausing, Welt added bluntly, "The Astral Express can only assist the Xianzhou with the Stellaron issue. Beyond that, I can’t intervene. I wanted to let you know in advance so you’re prepared."

Chen Lin smiled. "Uncle Yang, you can speak freely. I don’t mind."

Welt adjusted his glasses and continued, "If it comes to a conflict involving external factions, I’m bound by Pompom’s rules to avoid direct involvement. You and the others have more flexibility because of your multiple identities. But if I were to step in, it would break the Express’s neutrality, and that’s not an option. Do you understand?"

Chen Lin nodded. "Understood."

...

The cauldrons in Yunxia Violet Manor were numerous, though fortunately clustered within a compact area. Most of the Abundance cultists had been drawn to the frontlines by the loud and aggressive feigned assault of the Cloud Knights. This left the group’s path relatively clear, with few cultists or their summoned Abundance beasts in their way.

All around, the sound of cannon fire echoed—the handiwork of Fu Xuan's carefully prepared formations. However, these artillery strikes weren’t designed for actual destruction. Instead, their primary purpose was to create chaos through sheer noise.

The cultists, fearing the Cloud Knights might throw caution to the wind and launch a suicidal charge, had concentrated their forces in a loose defensive formation at the front, determined to hold their ground and avoid a complete collapse.

From her vantage point on the high ground, Fu Xuan covered her mouth and nose with one hand while feeding energy into the cannon formations with the other. Though the bombardments lacked lethal power, they served to mask the movements of Chen Lin and the others as they slipped through to the back of Yunxia Violet Manor. More importantly, they allowed Fu Xuan to conserve her strength for any unpredictable developments.

"How’s the mist looking?" Fu Xuan asked, not bothering to turn her head.

Qingzu, who had been keeping a close eye on the situation below, immediately responded, "It’s much thinner than before. Some of the cultists have started noticing and are heading further inside. Just now, March 7 contacted me—she said they’ve shut down the tenth cauldron."

"Ten cauldrons... That leaves only two!" Fu Xuan decisively ceased her energy supply to the cannon formations. She moved towards the center of the Xunfeng Array, scattering over ten talismans precisely along the edges of the formation.

As if a painter had begun coloring in a sketch, soft pink and purple energy flowed from the center of the formation outward. In moments, the array glowed brilliantly.

Qingzu’s voice came through again.

"Master Diviner, all the cauldrons have been shut down!"

Fu Xuan let out a deep breath, her flushed face finally relaxing. A glowing orb formed in her palm, trailing streams of energy as she raised it high. With a commanding gesture, she activated the array.

"Wind... rise!"

A powerful gust of wind materialized out of nowhere, shaking both sides of the standoff. Within seconds, the dense mist dissipated completely, and the fierce wind abruptly died down.

The Cloud Knight generals, who had been waiting for this exact moment, immediately noticed the shift. Their eyes lit up as they turned their gazes toward the Abundance cultists, who now resembled prey cornered by a pack of wolves.

The cultists, who had just moments ago been taunting the Cloud Knights with cries of "Come on, you dogs of the Hunt!" and "Just try charging in here if you dare!" suddenly fell silent.

With the thick mist gone, the once-shrouded Yunxia Violet Manor was now clearly visible, its ethereal haze completely lifted.

An awkward silence hung in the air, broken only when the leading Cloud Knight generals issued the attack order. The Cloud Knights, already restless and eager for combat, surged forward like a tidal wave.

"Didn’t you call for us to come? Well, your daddy’s here now!" One Cloud Knight general, still fuming from the earlier taunts, unsheathed his blade and charged straight for the cultist who had shouted the loudest.

The cultist managed to parry a few strikes before realizing, to his horror, that his attacks barely slowed the heavily armored knight. His enemy’s speed was unaffected, and his strikes carried overwhelming power.

Panic set in as the cultist cried out, "Dad! Please, stop chasing me!"

"Calling me dad won’t save you! Die, traitor!"

A swift slash sent the cultist’s head rolling. The Cloud Knight captain gleefully tied the head to his waist, marveling at the modifications Chen Lin had made to their gear.

"Man, this upgraded armor is incredible! I thought that beam attack would go straight through me, but it barely left a mark!"

"Captain, how have you only gotten one kill? I’ve already taken down three!" another knight teased.

"What?!"

Fired up by the challenge, the captain charged back into the fray, slicing through the cultists like a wolf among sheep. To him, each cultist was a walking bag of military merits, and his eyes glinted with the ferocity of someone entirely consumed by the thrill of battle.

What had initially seemed like an evenly matched standoff quickly turned into a one-sided slaughter the moment the mist cleared.

Some Cloud Knights, however, couldn’t help but notice Li Sushang’s performance on the battlefield. Normally gentle and helpful, Sushang now fought like a whirlwind of fury, chasing down six or seven cultists at once. Her massive sword, though clearly too heavy for her, swung wildly through the air as she struggled to land a hit.

Her frustration was evident as she shouted at her fleeing opponents, "Stand still, you villains! If you’re real men, fight me head-on! Don’t just run away! I need your heads to bring back to my master!"

---

T/N: WOAH HES USING PORTALS GILLLLLL still haven't decided on Chen Lin's appearance yet... feel free to drop down ideas and references

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!