Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [207]

The mysterious figure seemed to sense the gaze from the void, turning her head with a hint of confusion. Despite the black cloth obscuring her eyes, the dangerous aura radiating from her was palpable—even through the screen, Chen Lin could feel it.

Who the hell is this?!

Chen Lin’s mind spun with questions. This woman was not part of the plan he had devised with Jing Yuan. Knowing Jing Yuan’s meticulous nature, any major changes would have been communicated in advance.

Moreover, anyone capable of freezing dozens of individuals and creatures into ice sculptures within a radius of several meters would surely be considered a top-tier figure on the Xianzhou. Chen Lin was familiar with the structures of all the major commissions—except for the enigmatic and highly independent Ten-Lords Commission, which he had yet to encounter.

The Xianzhou is currently focused on reviving the Arbor. I heard the Ten-Lords Commission is involved in that effort. Could she be one of them?

If someone of this caliber was active, she was undoubtedly carrying out a specific mission.

The comfortable sense of control Chen Lin usually maintained as he managed events from the shadows began to waver. He still had to consider his deal with Phantylia; the emergence of an unexpected figure of such power could disrupt his carefully laid plans.

If she was an ally, it might not be a problem. The Ten-Lords Commission wouldn’t interfere with the Cloud Knights. But if she was an enemy…

Could she also have something to do with the Arbor?

The more he thought about it, the less right it felt. He adjusted the coordinates of his perspective within the Nexus, locking onto the mysterious figure to avoid losing sight of her.

Maintaining the surveillance feed, Chen Lin exited the Nexus at top speed, intending to ask his "know-it-all" big sister for answers. But as he stepped out, he collided with something unexpectedly solid.

“Ow!”

A soft, pained cry rang in his ears. The sight before him quelled his earlier urgency, replacing it with bemusement.

Fu Xuan, bent over and rubbing her reddened nose, had her brows knitted in discomfort. A few accompanying officers had discreetly moved several meters away, their backs turned. Chen Lin noticed their shoulders trembling—clearly suppressing laughter they dared not release.

“What were you doing, Sis?” Chen Lin sighed, his voice tinged with exasperation. “How did this even happen?”

“…”

Fu Xuan remained silent. She had been curious about where Chen Lin disappeared to after stepping into that swirling portal. Observing the spot intently, she leaned in closer. To her surprise, Chen Lin reemerged abruptly, shooting out like an arrow—and crashing into her.

Admitting this would cost her dignity. And so, Fu Xuan, flustered, chose not to explain.

Chen Lin chuckled, quickly piecing together the situation from her reaction. Knowing his sister’s pride, he decided not to press further, avoiding any awkwardness.

“My friends are on their way here,” he said, steering the conversation to something more serious. “But I noticed something else at the Artisanship Commission.”

“Oh?” Fu Xuan’s reddened face quickly turned serious, her earlier embarrassment forgotten.

Chen Lin described the strange woman he had seen, detailing how she had frozen everything in her vicinity, including mara struck and Abundance beasts.

“Do the six commissions of the Xianzhou have someone like this?” Chen Lin asked.

Fu Xuan stared at him, processing the information before shaking her head. “There are many who wield frost-based techniques, but someone capable of freezing everything in a radius of several dozen meters—including dozens of mara struck and Abundance creatures—effortlessly? That’s unheard of within the six commissions.”

Chen Lin’s brow furrowed as he continued walking, mulling over the information. “If not the commissions, could someone like this exist among the common populace?”

“The common populace…” Fu Xuan’s tone grew contemplative. “Perhaps, but certainly not on the Xianzhou Luofu. And the gender doesn’t match either. I’ve reviewed the Xianzhou registries extensively. A figure of this strength would undoubtedly be flagged by the Tianbo Division. If I don’t know of them, they must not be listed at all.”

“That complicates things.”

From what Chen Lin had observed, the woman hadn’t taken any deliberate actions. She simply walked at a normal pace, yet everything nearby froze solid. Under normal circumstances, low temperatures might immobilize creatures like mara struck or Abundance beasts. But here, even airborne moisture condensed into thick layers of ice, forming crystalline structures around her.

And she hadn’t so much as lifted a finger. If freezing dozens of enemies was this effortless, what would happen if she went all out? Would she encase the entire Luofu in ice?

The thought unsettled Chen Lin. Unplanned variables like this were dangerous, potentially derailing the entire operation.

“I’ll send people to investigate the Artisanship Commission—” Fu Xuan began.

“No need,” Chen Lin interrupted, shaking his head. “The Cloud Knights are already stretched thin dealing with the Disciple Sanctus. Those stationed here still need to maintain order among the populace. Besides…” He hesitated before continuing, “Do you think the Cloud Knights could even resist someone like her?”

Fu Xuan fell silent at his question.

She was well aware of the Cloud Knights’ capabilities. The truly elite forces were stationed on the Youqing front lines. Those left behind on the Luofu were either rookies with only a few decades of service or retired veterans serving as instructors.

The Luofu’s role within the Xianzhou Alliance was primarily economic and logistical, providing resources rather than military might. Its defensive capabilities were far weaker than the other ships’.

While the specialization of each ship minimized administrative chaos, it also created glaring vulnerabilities. Emergencies often left them scrambling.

“The General has been out of contact for some time,” Fu Xuan murmured, a fleeting trace of concern crossing her face. “Given the circumstances, I’ll personally investigate this unregistered intruder. If she’s connected to the Stellaron, I’ll eliminate her on the spot.”
 “You’re going to catch her? Really?”

“...What?”

“Sis, the General entrusted you with the command seal. Right now, every Cloud Knight only takes orders from you. If you leave, who’s going to deal with the Disciple Sanctus’s remnants?” Chen Lin resisted the urge to give his clueless sister a knock on the head. Only you could come up with the absolute worst plan in record time.

Fu Xuan flushed slightly, puffing up in defiance. “Then what should I do? I never expected the Xianzhou to reach the point where we’ve run out of capable people…”

“I’ll go.”

Chen Lin placed a hand on her shoulder, silencing her impending rebuttal with a calm yet determined look. Fu Xuan hesitated, recalling that her brother, despite being unable to beat her in combat, always had a knack for handling unexpected situations. Perhaps he had a plan?

Her curiosity overrode her frustration. She raised her head and studied him intently, silently deciding: If this fool doesn’t explain himself properly, I’ll deal with him my way. There’s no way I’ll let him pull another stunt like at the teahouse.

“The Disciple Sanctus’s forces are already cornered in their last stronghold,” Chen Lin began. “The moment they leave the drug-laden miasma, the Cloud Knights will crush them like a tide. Your job is to keep morale high and secure the perimeter. You’ve already earned immense respect among the troops—no one will defy the seal of command. Stay steady, and victory is certain.”

“And you?” Fu Xuan asked cautiously.

“I’m not just a spectator, right?” Chen Lin spread his hands with a wry smile. “You and Big Bro treat me like family, so I see the Xianzhou as my home. If my house is on fire, I can’t just sit back and do nothing. The situation here doesn’t need me anymore, which means I’m free to make sure our plans stay on track without interference.”

“...You mean you’ll improvise?”

“Pretty much. We don’t even know who she is.”

Fu Xuan crossed her arms and gave him a challenging look. “Fine, then. Care to spar with me first?”

“Huh? Why?” Chen Lin raised an eyebrow. “We both know I can’t beat you.”

“Exactly!” Fu Xuan’s hands went to her hips, her gaze sharp. “If you think this intruder is as powerful as you claim, she might be able to fight me to a standstill. I’m 80% confident I can trap her. Can you say the same?”

Chen Lin blinked, then grinned. “Sis, I’ve got one thing you don’t.”

“And what’s that?”

“I can run,” he replied with a cheeky wink.

The idea of sparring with Fu Xuan was ludicrous. He knew his limitations—while he wasn’t helpless, he couldn’t hope to match the raw power of someone like his sister. But when it came to escape routes? He was second to none.

He thought about mentioning the "toys" he’d prepared with Jing Yuan’s help—special tools that might even the playing field. Instead, he kept quiet. His real ace wasn’t his combat ability—it was his unmatched speed.

If it came to it, I could outrun her in an instant.

His confidence was bolstered by the Zroni Nexus, a tool he hadn’t fully explored yet but knew would give him a significant advantage in both mobility and survival.

Nearby, a group of Cloud Knight officers exchanged amused glances as the siblings bickered. The Master Diviner and Sir Chen sure have an… interesting relationship.

Their laughter vanished when Fu Xuan suddenly acted.

Before Chen Lin could continue explaining, Fu Xuan raised her hand, conjuring a talisman mid-air. It detonated with a thunderous roar, sending a shockwave directly toward him.

Chen Lin realized she’d pulled her punch—the blast was just loud enough to rattle his ears, not cause actual harm.

However, before the shockwave could reach him, several vortices appeared around Chen Lin. The talisman’s energy vanished into the spiraling portals, leaving only a faint sound behind.

Fu Xuan’s eyes widened in surprise, but she didn’t hesitate. She launched herself forward, aiming a sharp hand strike at his neck. If she couldn’t talk sense into her reckless brother, she’d knock him out and keep him under watch.

I can’t let him wander into danger alone.

To her shock, another vortex appeared beneath Chen Lin, swallowing him whole. Her strike hit nothing but air.

Chen Lin reappeared behind her in an instant, his hands already under her arms as he lifted her effortlessly off the ground.

“Sis… if I really wanted to run, neither you nor Big Bro could stop me,” he said with a playful grin.

Fu Xuan, dangling awkwardly in his grip, was too stunned to respond immediately. Her face flushed with embarrassment and irritation. She didn’t dare struggle too hard, fearing she might accidentally hurt him.

“Put me down!” she finally managed to sputter.

“Only if you agree to let me go,” Chen Lin teased, deliberately loosening his grip just enough to make her squirm. “Otherwise, I’ll carry you back to camp like this.”

Fu Xuan glared at him, her ear tips turning pink. She wasn’t used to being so thoroughly outmaneuvered. “You…!”

Chen Lin laughed but held his ground. He knew he still had time—his surveillance of the mysterious woman showed she hadn’t left the Artisanship Commission yet.

Finally, Fu Xuan let out a defeated sigh, her limbs going limp. “Fine. You’ve made up your mind already. Why even ask for my permission?”

Chen Lin’s grin faltered. She gave in way too easily… Is she really that upset?

Carefully, he set her back on her feet.

“I just wanted to talk to you before I left,” he said softly. “The risks are real, but I didn’t want to hide this from you. And besides, you’re my sister. It’s only right to tell you my plans and put your mind at ease.”

Fu Xuan adjusted her robes, avoiding his gaze. “This was supposed to be my responsibility, but now you’re taking it on instead. I promised the General I’d look after you…”

She sighed again, her voice quieter now. “Go, then. If things turn bad, retreat immediately. And don’t forget—if you run into trouble, call for me. I’ll come as fast as I can.”

“Got it. I’m off, then.”

“I’ll be waiting for your return,” Fu Xuan replied. Then, with a sudden shift in tone, she added, “And when you’re back… we’ll have a long talk about this.”

The sharp edge in her voice made Chen Lin chuckle nervously. Without another word, he dove back into the Nexus.

As the vortex closed, Fu Xuan stood alone, staring at the empty space where her brother had been. Her hand brushed her side absentmindedly, her cheeks still faintly pink.

Did I… smell weird? I didn’t shower yesterday… What if he noticed? No. No way. He wouldn’t dare think that.

Shaking her head furiously, she tried to banish the embarrassing memory of being hoisted like a child. But the thought lingered, leaving her flustered and distracted.

Somehow, despite herself, she couldn’t shake the strange, guilty pleasure of being treated so casually by her younger brother.

---

T/N: THIS IS UNHOLY!!!! PRAY TO THE LORD TO CLEANSE YOUR SINS

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!