Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [125]

Psionic energy had become Chen Lin’s second pair of eyes. In the past, using his psionic abilities to observe his surroundings required him to anchor his consciousness into the energy field, leaving his physical body entirely defenseless.

It was fine if he were in a secure location, but if anyone with ill intent appeared, he’d be at their mercy.

Now, Chen Lin could scan his surroundings without entering an unconscious state. At his current limit, he could cover a 50-meter radius, observing even the smallest movements with clarity.

“If that’s the case, there must be a Starskiff dock nearby! Sir Chen, we might really have a chance to get out of here!” the soldier exclaimed, then turned to Chen Lin with hope-filled eyes.

He had seen how effortlessly Chen Lin suppressed the Mara-Struck transformations—both his own and his unconscious comrade’s. If this person could save them, perhaps he could help other Cloud Knights as well.

Getting everyone out of this place alive seemed within reach.

This area was crawling with transformed individuals, their grotesque appendages terrifying to behold. Worse, the Mara-Struck were incredibly aggressive. Staying here meant they’d likely be killed in their sleep, unable to rest for even a moment.

“Let’s go,” Chen Lin said calmly.

He knew what the soldier was thinking. Getting out of here quickly would benefit them both. If it meant expending some psionic energy to speed things up, he didn’t mind.

After all, the Stellaron inside him, now fully converted into a psionic energy generator, provided him with an endless supply. The energy he’d spent saving the two soldiers had already replenished. Using this opportunity to practice his new abilities seemed worthwhile.

As the trio followed Chen Lin’s psionic-guided route, the [Communication] interface on his device briefly displayed the words Xianzhou Luofu. Unfortunately, the [Interact] button remained grayed out. Based on his experiences on Jarilo-VI, it was likely locked until he gained clearance from someone with sufficient authority.

If he could rescue some Luofu personnel, it would make sending a friendly signal much easier. Building goodwill would smoothen his efforts here, just as it had with Bronya and the Silvermane Guards.

Guided by his psionic sight, Chen Lin quickly arrived at the site of the skirmish.

Three Cloud Knights were locked in a desperate battle against more than ten Mara-Struck. Their weapons resembled polearms, though closer inspection revealed them to be laser-based implements shaped like long-bladed swords, capable of both close-quarters and ranged combat.

The Cloud Knights’ combat skills were leagues ahead of Belobog’s Silvermane Guards. Their teamwork was tight, their coordination flawless. Despite being outnumbered, and tasked with protecting a fox-eared girl huddled against a stack of containers, they held their ground.

With just two more fighters, they might have turned this even fight into a decisive rout.

“Sir, please help them!” the soldier carrying his unconscious comrade urged. He had just seen one of the Cloud Knights take a brutal hit—a Mara-Struck’s blade-like elbow slashing through their armor, blood staining the gauntlet crimson.

The soldier’s voice was loud enough to carry over the clash of weapons. Even amidst the chaos, the fox-eared girl in the back perked up, her ears twitching as she looked toward the sound.

Her eyes locked with Chen Lin’s.

Dressed in vibrant colors, her sleeves adorned with decorative sashes, and short heels entirely unsuitable for combat, the girl’s refined demeanor suggested a noble status.

Chen Lin immediately recognized her as someone important.

He understood the precariousness of his situation. As an outsider, he was at risk of being mistaken for an enemy. The dock, overrun by Mara-Struck, was no help, and his entry into the Luofu was already shrouded in suspicion.

He needed to establish his trustworthiness quickly.

Chen Lin had a plan.

Step One: Establish dominance with overwhelming power.

With a resounding thud, Chen Lin took a step forward.

Although he had never killed anyone with his own hands, countless dangerous individuals in Belobog had been executed under his orders. His usually calm gaze turned sharp, and an oppressive aura swept through the area.

A chill of impending doom rippled outward, making the soldier closest to him shiver involuntarily.

Authority.

The oppressive authority of someone at the top.

In an unseen dimension, countless threads of psionic energy shot out, surrounding the rampaging Mara-Struck. The air seemed to buckle under the pressure, emitting a deep, ominous rumble.

Then—

Boom!

The Mara-Struck were flattened in an instant, as if an enormous invisible hand had slammed them into the ground.

The sheer force twisted their limbs and torsos grotesquely, smashing the stone beneath them into dust. The sound of breaking bones—or armor—rang out simultaneously.

Even the ground seemed to tremble.

The sudden turn of events stunned the Cloud Knights. They instinctively retreated, some even dropping their weapons. The polearms that had pierced the Mara-Struck were caught in the crushing field, bending into useless shards.

Snap!

Chen Lin snapped his fingers.

The Mara-Struck, now unconscious and severely deformed, floated into the air, suspended in an invisible force field.

It was only then that everyone noticed the calm, collected figure standing a short distance away. His serene expression and refined appearance seemed incongruous with the devastation surrounding him.

Among the Cloud Knights, everyone knew their comrades’ capabilities. None of them could have pulled this off.

The answer was clear: it had to be the young man.

Chen Lin concealed the toll of his rapidly depleting psionic energy, maintaining a gentle smile as he stepped forward. “I hope my intervention wasn’t an inconvenience.”

His flawless Xianzhou dialect caught the soldiers off guard. After a moment of stunned silence, they shook their heads vigorously.

The fox-eared girl stepped forward, bowing slightly in respect.

“Sir, I am Tingyun, an ambassador for the Luofu’s Astral Fleet. May I ask which Xianzhou Alliance ship you hail from?”

Her tone was reverent, her demeanor suggesting she believed Chen Lin to be someone of great importance.

It wasn’t an unreasonable assumption. Along the way, Chen Lin had practiced his spoken Xianzhou with the soldier he saved. His innate talent, combined with the linguistic knowledge he had absorbed, allowed him to speak flawlessly.

With his appearance matching the Luofu’s native features and his near-divine abilities, Tingyun naturally assumed he was a high-ranking figure from a different ship.

Chen Lin smiled and shook his head. “Miss Tingyun, you flatter me. I am Chen Lin, Governor of the Jarilo-VI Starfield under the Interstellar Rift Empire—not part of the Xianzhou Alliance.”

Step Two: Flaunt the Tiger’s Skin.

Chen Lin had already pieced together the consequences of his psionic awakening. Every interstellar faction with advanced communications had received a broadcast about the Star Sea Empire’s event—the great psionic awakening.

Calling it a “broadcast” didn’t seem quite right; it was more akin to a decree. The signal had even caused panic among some smaller factions, who believed an ancient empire had reawakened. Many scrambled to uncover details about the Star Sea Empire, only to find that their searches led solely to Jarilo-VI, the newly annexed starfield.

As one of the six ships in the Xianzhou Alliance, the Luofu would undoubtedly have received the signal. Using the empire’s name to bolster his credibility seemed like an excellent way to ensure his safety.

Sometimes, mystery is the most effective form of intimidation.

Sure enough, when Tingyun heard the words Star Sea Empire, she froze. Her emerald-green eyes betrayed no confusion but quickly regained their composure. With a polite smile, she remarked:

“Chen Lin—what a name steeped in Xianzhou heritage.”

She continued, “Recently, both the Divination Commission and the Astral Fleet received the signal from the Star Sea Empire. The Luofu is currently in a period of slow cruising and recuperation, so our understanding of the outside world is somewhat limited. May I ask, Governor, what brings you to the Luofu?”

Chen Lin offered a mild smile. “I’m here in a private capacity. My other identity is as a member of the Astral Express. I came to the Luofu to search for a few friends, at someone’s request.”

Tingyun’s eyes flickered with realization. “Are these friends of yours three passengers of the Astral Express?”

“You know of them, Miss Tingyun?”

“Of course.” Tingyun nodded with a practiced smile. “However, I am unaware of their current whereabouts. They are likely unable to leave the Luofu for now due to certain circumstances I cannot disclose. That said, I can share what I’ve heard…”

Tingyun explained that Walter, March 7th, and Stelle had gone to the Astral Fleet’s central hub the previous day and met with their leader. However, the Fleet was suspicious of their intentions. Complicating matters, the gates leading out of the Luofu had been closed days ago, making entry and exit impossible.

After leaving their meeting, the trio had disappeared.

“I was sent here under the orders of Lord Yukong,” Tingyun added gently, “to search the docks for any surviving Cloud Knights or civilians to prevent further misunderstandings. If you are indeed an Astral Express passenger, Governor, then your presence here makes sense.”

“Oh, right,” Chen Lin said, raising an eyebrow as he remembered the two Cloud Knights he had saved. Stepping aside, he gestured for them to come forward. “These two are your people. I rescued them on the way here. Miss Tingyun, perhaps you could verify their identities?”

Tingyun had already noticed the unconscious and awake soldiers but had refrained from mentioning them, preferring to follow Chen Lin’s lead.

After all, this benefactor had clearly aided them significantly. If his claims about his identity were true, his political status likely surpassed everyone present combined.

Covering her mouth delicately, Tingyun spoke with a sweet and soft tone, “Thank you, Governor. On behalf of the Cloud Knights, I extend our deepest gratitude for saving the lives of these two comrades.”

The two soldiers were soon escorted by other Cloud Knights for verification, utilizing specialized methods to confirm their identities.

Shortly after, one of the knights hurried back to whisper something in Tingyun’s ear. Her eyes widened at the news.

Chen Lin, noticing her reaction, said calmly, “There’s no need for secrecy, Miss Tingyun. Please, speak openly.”

The knight straightened up and reported, “Their identities are confirmed. Both are registered soldiers. However, they had transformed into Mara-Struck. Thanks to this gentleman’s intervention, they’ve been restored… although their memories are somewhat fragmented.”

With that, the knight lifted his visor, gazing at Chen Lin with deep reverence.

In the Luofu, Mara-Struck was considered an incurable affliction. While the longevity granted by the Ambrosial Arbor’s fruit was a blessing, it came with a cost. After living for centuries, Xianzhou citizens often succumbed to Mara-Struck, a condition marked by monstrous physical changes and unrelenting aggression.

The Luofu had faced numerous crises caused by Mara-Struck. Despite ongoing research, their only solution had been to suppress the condition, as curing it outright seemed impossible.

Yet now, they had encountered someone who could reverse the transformation entirely.

Even Tingyun was visibly shaken.

“Governor…”

Chen Lin waved dismissively. “To be honest, it was a fluke. I only intended to defend myself when I was attacked at the docks. At first, I thought they were common bandits, only to discover they were people who had turned into these so-called Mara-Struck.

“Out of curiosity, I experimented a bit and—unexpectedly—they reverted to human form.”

Tingyun’s expression shifted, her admiration growing. “The Luofu owes its longevity to the Ambrosial Arbor, but this gift carries a cost. Around the age of 800, many face the symptoms of Mara-Struck. These are known as the Five Decays.”

“Five Decays?”

“Yes,” Tingyun explained, “The Five Decays are: Corruption, Stain, Wrath, Mutation, and Oblivion.

• Corruption refers to physical damage that requires prolonged, painful self-healing.

• Stain describes infections from resilient foreign viruses or bacteria.

• Wrath is an emotional upheaval, with erratic mood swings and destructive tendencies.

• Mutation involves growing additional organs, destabilizing the human form.

• Oblivion is a mental void, leaving the afflicted in a state of dazed aimlessness.”

Listening to her explanation, Chen Lin couldn’t help but feel as though this sounded suspiciously like a cultivator succumbing to inner demons.

Before he could voice his thoughts, Tingyun offered a formal bow, her tone reverent. “Governor, if you would allow, I’d like to escort you to meet Lord Yukong as an honored guest. If you could discuss this with her, it might help resolve the misunderstanding surrounding your friends. The Luofu never turns its back on allies.”

Chen Lin hesitated, the weight of her words sinking in.

“Governor…” Tingyun’s eyes glimmered with an imploring light, her voice honeyed and intoxicating.

This woman… she’s quite the silver-tongued diplomat.

Today, Chen Lin resolved to confront his weakness.

Leaning closer to Tingyun, he whispered, “Then say it again.”

Tingyun: “?”

—

T/N: well to be honest honeyed voices are a weakness of mine too…

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!