Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [206]

The operation to eliminate the remaining forces faced unexpected complications. This was the core of the Disciple Sanctus’s sanctum, filled with towering buildings that formed narrow and complex alleyways. These constrained battlefronts meant the Cloud Knights often found themselves bottlenecked, with most troops stuck behind, helplessly watching as only a few engaged the enemy.

The majority of the Disciple Sanctus’s elite forces were stationed here for a decisive battle. Despite the Cloud Knights leveraging psychological tactics backed by their superior position, many elite members of the Disciple Sanctus still resisted stubbornly. They were unshaken by threats of torture or promises of clemency.

“Die, lackeys! You won’t fool me!” A burly elite from the Disciple Sanctus snarled, swinging his blade at a Cloud Knight. The knight hastily blocked, but the strike feinted as a horizontal slash and transitioned into an upward cut aimed at his abdomen.

This elite had already slain over ten Cloud Knights in this hour-long battle.

What made him terrifying wasn’t his raw strength but his mastery of techniques strikingly similar to the Cloud Knights’ own military combat styles. It was evident he had once been part of their ranks. His foundation was solid, indicating at least a few centuries of service.

With his true skills unleashed and the enhancements from his demonic Mara form, he was far stronger than the average Cloud Knight. Even under the onslaught of dozens of rotating attacks, he remained impossible to subdue.

After felling yet another opponent, the last two surviving elites from the Disciple Sanctus stood back-to-back. Exhausted from prolonged combat, they resolved to make a final stand. Bloodied and fierce, they stepped over the scattered bodies of fallen Cloud Knights, charging forward like asuras incarnate.

Chen Lin and Qingzu remained on the observation platform, overseeing the final stages of the cleanup. Meanwhile, Fu Xuan led a pursuit of the fleeing remnants, determined to clear out the core area entirely.

“Sir Chen, let me assist them…” Qingzu frowned, troubled by how long the battle dragged on. She resolved to investigate the identities of those elites skilled in Cloud Knight combat arts. How had they joined the Disciple Sanctus?

Chen Lin, observing the blood-soaked battlefield below, stopped her. “No need. I’ll handle this.”

He quickly pinpointed the location of the two elites, stepped into the Zroni Nexus, and vanished.

Moments later, he reappeared behind the two. Manipulating psionic energy, he seized a short sword from the ground and struck with precision. Under the stunned gazes of the surrounding Cloud Knights, who hadn’t even registered his arrival, he stabbed both elites through their backs and severed their limbs, neutralizing them entirely and ending the battle.

In the blink of an eye, he returned to the platform via the Nexus, resuming his conversation with Qingzu. The Cloud Knights in the alley below were dumbfounded, gazing at Chen Lin with awe. Some began tending to their wounded comrades, while others marveled at his extraordinary abilities.

One injured knight, applying medicine to himself, exclaimed, “That official has some real tricks. I couldn’t even see what happened before those two fiends just dropped… Did any of you catch that?”

“Not even a clue,” another knight replied, sheathing his blade and glancing at the distant platform where Chen Lin stood with Qingzu. “Crossing that distance in the blink of an eye and returning instantly? What kind of speed is that? If I had it, I’d dominate every martial arts tournament!”

A knight nursing broken fingers grimaced through his pain. “That official is always around the General and the Master Diviner. There’s no way he’s lacking in skill.”

“True enough.”

“But don’t feel too bad. There’s one thing you’re definitely faster at than he is.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

“Chasing after the ladies at Chunxuan Pavilion.”

The alley erupted in laughter, the tension dissolving into bawdy jokes and banter. With victory secured and the Cloud Knights’ momentum unstoppable, their spirits soared—early celebrations weren’t unwarranted.

As the battle concluded, dozens of medics rushed in to treat the injured. Many knights who had lain on the freezing ground for what felt like hours were found clinging to life. Through quick intervention, even those on the brink of death were revived.

What had seemed like a potential massacre—with over a hundred expected dead—ended with only around ten fatalities. Those with severed limbs or damaged organs would merely need rest, waiting for their injuries to regenerate.

Chen Lin marveled at the resilience of the Xianzhou people, especially when he saw a knight whose skull had been partially sliced off still alive. On other planets, such a case would be hailed as a biomedical miracle.

Fu Xuan, accustomed to Chen Lin’s myriad inexplicable abilities, remained unfazed. But Qingzu was different.

She vividly remembered Chen Lin’s self-effacing remarks about his lack of combat skills, always claiming he relied on cunning and stealth.

And yet here he was, instantaneously teleporting behind enemies for a silent kill.

Seriously? This guy can beat most opponents of his rank with just this skill alone!

Qingzu felt a pang of indignation. You said you weren’t good at fighting? Who’s the fool here, you or me?

Her thoughts were interrupted when a scout approached and murmured something to her.

Chen Lin didn’t eavesdrop intentionally, but his sharp hearing caught every word from several meters away.

Fu Xuan’s pursuit had narrowly avoided an ambush. Some Cloud Knights, unscathed, began showing signs of mara struck, forcing the retreat. Meanwhile, the Disciple Sanctus misinterpreted this as their trap succeeding and attempted a counterattack.

Unfortunately for them, Fu Xuan led the force. More than half their number fell before the survivors fled. The pursuit group was now returning.

After the scout left, Chen Lin turned to Qingzu. “Miss Qingzu, perhaps we should set up camp here. Let the soldiers rest. The Disciple Sanctus’s treachery knows no bounds. Pressing them step by step will leave them nowhere to run. The urgency is theirs, not ours.”

“Understood. I’ll see to it immediately.” Qingzu nodded and began organizing the encampment.

Not long after, Fu Xuan returned with her forces. Many soldiers appeared haggard, swaying as they walked. Some were injured; others bore early signs of Mara corruption. They were quickly triaged, the afflicted sent to the rear for treatment.

Though Xianzhou technology couldn’t fully cure Mara transformations, they had experience in prevention and recovery. As long as the afflicted weren’t too far gone or too old, rescue remained feasible.

Fu Xuan, already considering setting up camp, was relieved to see Qingzu arranging it. After a brief discussion, she left to find Chen Lin.

“Brother,” she called as they crossed paths, “we encountered a… situation. Come see for yourself.”

“Is it that bad?” Chen Lin asked, surprised.

“Just come.”

Led by Fu Xuan, Chen Lin soon reached a pavilion overlooking the sanctum’s edge. Below, swirling ocean waters crashed against the cliffs. But the true focus was a series of massive alchemical furnaces, nearly 30 meters tall, perched on circular platforms.

Beneath the furnaces, seawater surged in and streamed out through side vents. The surrounding air was hazy with smoke, carrying a faint herbal scent—fragrant, yet unnatural.

Fu Xuan crossed her arms, staring at the furnaces. “See those? They’re alchemical constructs of the Disciple Sanctus, drawing on the Arbor’s power to manifest impossible feats. That scent in the air? Likely tied to the drugs they’ve weaponized against us.”

“Like the incense from that warehouse?”

“Exactly.” Fu Xuan nodded grimly. “At this distance, the effect is mild. But the closer we get, the higher the risk of triggering Mara transformations. These furnaces are death traps for our forces. Truly despicable tactics.”

“…Do we not have gas masks?”

“What?” Fu Xuan blinked, caught off guard. “What’s a gas mask?”

Chen Lin sighed. Explaining the concept, he sketched a rough model with a stick.

Fu Xuan listened attentively, murmuring, “Such a thing wouldn’t be hard to produce… It seems we’ve overlooked this entirely. I’ll report it to the General immediately after this campaign.”

Chen Lin couldn’t help but mutter inwardly, You’ve mastered space travel but skipped over basic protective gear?

Fu Xuan, oblivious to his thoughts, continued. “For now, we must deal with those furnaces. Storming them head-on is suicide. Closing them is our only option, but how…”

“I refuse to believe you don’t have an idea, Sis.”

Fu Xuan huffed. “Of course I do. Don’t think I’ve forgotten about your little friends. They’re not from the Xianzhou, and thus unaffected by this whole mara struck nonsense. This drug likely doesn’t work on anyone outside the Xianzhou. Am I wrong in assuming this?”

“That’s correct.” Chen Lin discarded the twig in his hand and began walking away. “Kafka mentioned that the Xianzhou would end up indebted to the Astral Express. That means at some point, there will be a challenge the Xianzhou cannot face alone, requiring my friends to step in. That’s why I arranged for them to scout the Artisanship Commission. While clearing out the remnants there, they could also rendezvous with the Cloud Knights.”

“Kafka’s predictions are being realized one step at a time. I can’t see as far as she can, nor with the same precision. The Stellaron Hunters’ foresight is truly remarkable,” Fu Xuan admitted, quickly catching up to him. “So, are we holding our position for now?”

“Exactly. By now, the situation at the Artisanship Commission should be resolved. They’re likely on their way here. Wait here, Sis. I’ll check if they’re still in the area.”

Chen Lin stepped into the Nexus, activating a map of the Artisanship Commission and scanning for the Express crew’s location.

The once-thriving Arbor roots here were nearly all withered, their vast networks shriveled and detached from the furnace’s scaffolding above.

March and the others should be arriving soon, Chen Lin thought.

Just as he was about to exit the Nexus, he spotted an unfamiliar figure moving leisurely in a corner of the Artisanship Commission.

Surrounding this individual were over twenty Mara-transformed beings and an array of Abundance beasts. Yet wherever the figure passed, both Mara-beasts and Abundance creatures froze solid, transformed into sturdy ice sculptures.

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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!