Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [213]

As soon as Chen Lin left the cargo port, he contacted Fu Xuan at the Alchemy Commission. His communication device had been whitelisted, so it didn’t turn into a brick like Li Sushang’s during the security lockdown.

Fu Xuan informed him that the army was still resting, and the Disciple Sanctus’s secret relics remained untouched. She then asked about the situation near the Star Skiff Sea. Chen Lin gave her a brief rundown, mentioning Jingliu by name and revealing her identity as the former Sword Champion. For the full details, he promised to explain after returning.

Once the star skiff exited the restricted zone, Chen Lin notified the patrol from the Astral Navigators and requested a dedicated flight route. The skiff was then set to autopilot.

The reason? The “pilot” was currently being forced to sit and transcribe a text under her own repeated cries of "Master."

"Master… this Psionic Theory… are you sure this is swordsmanship? It doesn’t seem like it…"

"If I say it is, then it is! Less talking. Copy the first chapter ten more times."

"…"

"Are you going to do it or not? What’s with the attitude? Can’t even read properly, and I’m already teaching you. You’re lucky I’m patient. If you don’t like it, go find another master. Don’t waste my time."

"I’ll copy it, I’ll copy it! Geez…" Li Sushang pouted, reluctantly giving in.

Her master’s swordsmanship could destroy mountains and seas, feats even her mother couldn’t match. If he said copying this book was useful, there had to be a good reason.

Yes, there must be a reason!

Reassured by her own logic, Li Sushang focused on copying with renewed determination.

One day, I’ll shine as brightly as Master, famous among the Cloud Knights and remembered for generations to come.

Chen Lin wasn’t tormenting this pure-hearted girl for fun. Rather, her situation had sparked an idea in his mind.

The phrase “the heart surpasses the physical” in the context of psionic ascension described how only a fraction of one’s inner potential is ever developed.

Coupled with the [Zroni Nexus]’s new technology, he theorized that all lifeforms with basic biological traits possessed psionic potential. Ancient traditions of psionics also spoke of how sufficiently advanced psionics practitioners could detect and awaken latent abilities in others.

It wasn’t that everyone could easily become a psionicist—it was that he might be able to unlock their hidden talents.

The implications of such an ability were enormous. On a small scale, it could be a profitable enterprise. On a larger scale, it was a unique political asset or military advantage. It wasn’t hard to imagine people saying, "Serving the Empire is the greatest honor" in the future.

Previously, he had been too busy searching for people and dealing with the sudden emergence of the L-Gate to explore this theory. Jarilo-VI was full of psionicists who didn’t need his help, and for now, he couldn’t return there anyway. Here, however, he had the perfect candidate for experimentation.

This was one of the two reasons he had taken Li Sushang as a disciple.

The other? During a cursory examination of her, Chen Lin had discovered something inexplicable.

Hidden within her body was a power as steady and immovable as a mountain—a figurative “nuclear bomb” waiting to detonate. Yet, she had no idea it existed. Her big, innocent eyes brimmed with carefree clarity, showing not even a hint of self-awareness about her unique condition.

She thought her master’s examination was merely a routine check of her talent, performed using some mystical and profound method.

"Master, I’m done!" Li Sushang gleefully presented her stack of handwritten papers. The words were scrawled unevenly, and even she looked embarrassed by her messy handwriting. But that was the best her penmanship could manage.

Chen Lin, still pondering how to deal with his new disciple, glanced at her work. She had actually completed the task he’d set for her.

Did Xianzhou people have superhuman transcription speed? She copied a whole chapter in a minute?

Putting the papers aside, Chen Lin pointed to a spot nearby. "Sit there. I’ll do a detailed check."

"Yes, Master!" Li Sushang obediently sat where directed. She had experienced his diagnostic methods before. Though they had left her feeling awestruck by her master’s esoteric skills, they carried no malice.

For martial artists, examining one’s physical condition was routine. As someone from a family of warriors, Li Sushang had grown up with her mother pinching and prodding her body to assess her constitution. There was nothing unusual about it.

Chen Lin placed a hand on her head, sending a warm flow of psionic energy through her body. He frowned deeply, though she couldn’t see it. If she could, she might have teased him about wrinkles forming on his forehead.

There was indeed an unusual power inside her. It was deeply hidden yet perfectly attuned to her being, as if it were a natural part of her. Though it wasn’t currently active, it seemed harmless for now.

Despite his careful search, Chen Lin still couldn’t figure out how to fully detect others’ potential or awaken their latent abilities. With no progress, he withdrew his hand and sighed.

This power lies dormant within her, waiting for the right moment to erupt. Is this some kind of inheritance from a great master?

It wasn’t impossible. Perhaps it was tied to some Xianzhou secret art. However, from his perspective, there wasn’t enough evidence to explain it logically. He decided to set the matter aside for now. As long as it wasn’t harmful, there was no urgent need to investigate further.

"Master, what do you think…?" Li Sushang asked nervously.

"Hand me your sword," he replied.

She complied immediately. The moment he held it, he felt the ancient, boundless energy hidden within the blade. It was vast and mysterious, rivaling the power of Jingliu’s sword—and perhaps even surpassing it.

Both the girl and the sword had stories to tell.

"A fine sword," Chen Lin remarked.

The energy within the blade resonated with her innate power, perfectly aligned. Such a coincidence was hard to believe.

Li Sushang puffed out her chest with pride. "Of course! Mother said this sword is a family heirloom. She wouldn’t have let me take it to the Cloud Knights if I hadn’t enlisted!"

"Does it have a name?"

Xianzhou’s advanced craftsmanship had produced countless legendary weapons. If this sword had a name, it might shed light on Li Sushang’s origins. He wasn’t expecting much from her explanation, though.

"Master, you have to keep this secret," she whispered, as if guarding a priceless treasure. "Mother never told me its name, but I overheard her once. I think it’s called… Xuanyuan Sword."

"Pfft—"

Chen Lin nearly spat out the water he’d been sipping.

Xuanyuan Sword? Do your people also have Pure Jun, Zhanlu, Yuchang, and Chixiao stashed somewhere?!

The more he looked at his new disciple, the more extraordinary she seemed.

"What’s your mother’s name?" he asked, keeping his tone even.

Li Sushang hesitated, as if guarding another secret. After a moment of thought, she looked up with an earnest expression.

"Mother is Mother," she replied.

"…"

Without a word, Chen Lin summoned a stack of blank paper nearly a meter high, along with several pens. His tone was calm but firm.

"After the mission, take this home and copy it until it’s all filled. I’ll check your work in two weeks."

Li Sushang stared at the paper and pens in dismay, tears welling in her eyes. "Master, I really don’t know her name! But all the officers in the Cloud Knights call her something with ‘Qin’ in it. She must be named Qin! I just never thought to ask…"

Now it was Chen Lin’s turn to be stunned.

Does this world really have daughters who don’t know their own mother’s full name?

"Forget it," he said, shaking his head. He hadn’t been expecting much; it was just idle curiosity. "Go practice your swordsmanship. Let’s see what your basics look like."

"Yes, Master!"

She took her sword and moved to the front of the skiff, where she began practicing with enthusiasm. Unfortunately, the limited space made her swings appear cramped and awkward.

Chen Lin silently corrected her posture and pointed out flaws until the star skiff finally entered the Alchemy Commission’s airspace, now firmly under the Cloud Knights’ control.

“Hmm? Is that little Sushang? From the Ministry of Engineering evacuation… Chen… Chen, sir!”

As Li Sushang approached the port, the stationed Cloud Knights greeted her cheerfully, raising their hands to wave. However, upon spotting Chen Lin behind her, their casual demeanor shifted to solemn salutes, executed with crisp precision.

To these knights, Chen Lin was no ordinary outsider. He was the man who had willingly borne the weight of infamy to avenge the betrayal and deaths of their comrades. Such loyalty and determination earned their deepest respect and admiration.

Unbeknownst to them, Chen Lin didn’t see his actions as anything extraordinary. Compared to the horrors of exterminating entire clans, this was just another trivial matter to him.

"Alright, alright, enough with that," Chen Lin said, chuckling awkwardly and waving his hand. "I’m not your commanding officer."

The lead knight replied resolutely, "In our hearts, you are, sir!"

"Let’s not go there," Chen Lin said with a wry smile. "If your general hears this, he might think I’m trying to seize military power. That’s not a good look."

He turned his attention to the bustling star skiffs moving back and forth. "Why are there so many skiffs? What’s being transported?"

"Supplies," the knight explained. "Medicine, provisions, and so on. Some skiffs are also transporting severely wounded soldiers. Oh, and…" He chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "A small amount of unrecoverable waste from the execution grounds. The Ten Lords Commission requested it be sent to them for processing. The Grand Diviner should’ve briefed you about this, sir."

"She did."

The Ten Lords Commission was tasked with managing Mara-struck individuals and those teetering on the edge of succumbing to Mara. They also dealt with the remains of the Disciple Sanctus, those who had retained their sanity through drugs but were irreversibly Mara-struck.

Leaving the bodies of the Disciple Sanctus unaccounted for was dangerous. Who could say if some desperate outsider might attempt to consume them in pursuit of immortality?

The Xianzhou’s ban on researching the Abundance’s power was rooted in countless hard-learned lessons. No rule was ever created without reason.

Li Sushang, her curiosity piqued, leaned closer. "Master, aren’t the Cloud Knights busy fighting a war? Why is there an execution ground?"

Chen Lin flicked her forehead with his finger, making a sharp thunk.

"Stay out of grown-up business, kid."

Clutching her reddened forehead, she pouted. "Oh…"

Amused by her reaction, Chen Lin decided to push her curiosity a bit further.

"Are you sure you’re not curious?"

"Uh, not at all!"

"Fine. Let me tell you anyway. I set up a tribunal and made myself the judge. Every Disciple Sanctus prisoner we captured, I sentenced to death. Brutal, huh?"

Chen Lin folded his arms, watching for her reaction. He was expecting shock or disbelief, but instead, Li Sushang clenched her fists, her face burning with righteous indignation.

"Sentenced them all to death? Serves them right! The Disciple Sanctus are as vile as the rumors say! Master, if you don’t mind, I’ll go carry out divine justice myself—slice those villains into eight pieces! Not even you can stop me!"

"…"

Do you even understand context?

Chen Lin couldn’t help but laugh internally.

When he’d left the Alchemy Commission earlier, he’d felt a lingering tension. Now, as he returned with Li Sushang in tow, he felt considerably more at ease. Together, they headed toward the encampment.

Meanwhile, the knights stationed at the port stood frozen, their jaws practically hitting the ground.

"Did I hear that right? Little Sushang just called Chen Lin… Master?!"

This revelation struck like a thunderbolt.

The knight couldn’t suppress a grin. Within the Cloud Knights, those who merely respected Chen Lin were a minority. Many outright admired him. She couldn’t wait to see how the lovestruck masses would react when they heard this bombshell.

All those knights trying to impress him with their martial prowess… Little Sushang just took a shortcut and became his disciple instead!

"Ha! Hahaha!"

Her sudden laughter drew curious looks from her comrades.

"Zixia, what’s so funny?" someone asked.

"Nothing. Just thinking about something hilarious."

"Focus! We’re professionals. No matter how funny something is, we shouldn’t laugh while on duty!"

"Oh? Then come here, I’ll tell you… So, Chen Lin did this… and then Sushang did that…"

"HAHAHAHA!"

Seconds later, the gathered knights burst into peals of laughter, the air around them brimming with mirth.

Elsewhere, Chen Lin led Li Sushang toward the encampment. As they walked, other Cloud Knights greeted them warmly. Many greeted Li Sushang directly, and she responded cheerfully, earning smiles from everyone she passed.

This little disciple of mine is surprisingly well-liked, Chen Lin thought with amusement.

Before long, they arrived at the central hub of the Alchemy Commission’s inner sanctum. Li Sushang excused herself, heading off to report to her captain, while Chen Lin turned toward the command tent where Fu Xuan awaited him.

---

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!