Warhammer Cultivation: Cultivating the Tao Te Ching in the 40K Universe

“They are no longer individual Astartes. Because of a common goal called ‘survival’ and ‘hope’, they have initially linked their will into a whole.”

"This shared goal and the cohesion of will is itself a most basic and widespread form of 'harmony with the Tao' practice."

"While they are building this great formation, they are also tempering their own 'hearts'. They are using their own hands to lay the most solid foundation for themselves, enough to withstand that 'soul alchemy'...

"The day the great formation is completed will be the day when their 'heart' and 'will' reach their peak."

"At that time, our chances of success will increase by another 30%."

Tectus-19, quietly, listens.

For the first time, his rapidly operating computing core attempted to comprehend this unquantifiable force called "will."

Perhaps... the upgrade of the "Soul Protocol" requires more than just the right code.

We also need a sufficiently powerful... "processor"?

Hector also seemed momentarily dazed, as if...

A glimpse into the next realm of cultivation is hidden in what you just said.

Chapter 222 Loyal Opposition

When the aging star of Barna rises once again from the horizon.

The entire edge of the "Great Wasteland" was completely surrounded by "energy-conducting rune towers" that resembled silent giants.

They are the first line of defense in this vast energy network.

Today, the first and most important energy tower, the "Qian-001" that serves as the "dragon head" of the entire formation, is about to complete its final construction.

Saint Gilles came to the scene in person.

Under his gaze.

The last member of the Holy Blood Guard carefully installed a core plate made of the purest crystal, engraved with the character "乾" (Qian), into the groove at the top of the tower.

"Buzz!!!!"

A distant and magnificent humming sound, as if it came from the beginning of time, instantly resounded throughout the entire world!

The hundred-meter-tall rune tower, filled with a minimalist Eastern style, trembled violently!

Immediately afterwards, a visible, pale golden energy halo started from the base of the tower and spread rapidly upwards along the mysterious rune circuits on the tower's body!

Finally, at the crystal rune plate at the top of the tower, a beam of light converged and shot into the sky!

The beam of light pierced through the eternally dim, reddish sky of Balna, like a sword from another land, filled with the laws of "new life" and "order"!

It stands silently on this red land that has been dead for thousands of years.

It became the first, in thousands of years, true symbol of "new life" for this land!

All the Holy Blood Angels present raised their heads and gazed up at the pillar of light, which they had never seen before and which was full of hope.

For the first time, their eyes revealed genuine excitement and... fervor!

On the lookout tower of the flagship, the Immortal Wonder.

Several high-ranking officers from the "traditional" faction within the legion, who were not involved in the project but were responsible for guarding the flagship, were looking at the towering, uniquely styled structure with extremely complex expressions.

"This... is what that 'Dao Lord' brought?" A company commander frowned and said in a low voice.

"Its style is completely out of step with everything in the Empire," another military officer echoed in a deep voice. "There is no Eagle emblem, no Gothic vaults, and certainly no hymns to the Emperor."

"It's too quiet."

"Quiet...like a heretical monument."

Their voices were filled with an instinctive reaction to this "unknown" thing...

Rejection, and vigilance.

......

Beneath the red sky of Baal, an unprecedented upheaval is taking place.

Once, this land, scorched by stellar radiation for billions of years, was synonymous with desolation and barrenness. Apart from the magnificent monastery of the Ninth Legion, which stood like an isolated island, there was no trace of civilization here.

But now, everything is different.

Towers of energy-conducting runes, hundreds of meters high and filled with a minimalist Eastern style and mysterious runes, have sprung up like mushrooms after rain on this red desert.

They are so unique.

It lacks the iconic, Gothic-inspired architectural language of the Empire. There are no menacing dwarf stone carvings, no towering spires, and certainly no ubiquitous double-headed eagle emblem.

They simply stood there silently and quietly.

It's as if it doesn't belong to this era, or to this universe.

As these colossal towers are completed one by one and begin initial energy calibration, the entire surface landscape of Baal, and even the planet's magnetic field environment, are undergoing subtle yet profound changes.

A peculiar atmosphere, a mixture of hope and unease, began to quietly ferment within the entire Ninth Legion.

Most of the Blood Angels who participated in the project were filled with unprecedented expectations for the future.

They built these giant towers with their own hands, and they witnessed firsthand the transformative power displayed by the "Lord of the Way" from Terra.

They believed this was the right path to salvation.

However, even under the sunshine of hope, the shadow of doubt will inevitably emerge.

This was especially true for the more traditional "honor guards" who, because they needed to stay behind at the warships and orbital monasteries, were unable to participate in the project themselves.

What they saw was not new life.

Rather... heresy.

......

The flagship "Immortal Wonder" serves as the strategic command center.

A routine meeting regarding the progress of the first phase of the "Bar Purification Protocol" project is underway.

Saint Gilles sat enthroned on his commander's throne, carved from white marble.

Below him were the company commanders of all the companies in the Ninth Army Corps, as well as the highest-ranking officials of each department.

Hector Kane, as the chief advisor for the entire program, along with Tectus-19 and others, also attended the meeting.

Chief Pharmacist Melos is reporting on the first batch of energy exploration data from the "Energy Conduit Rune Tower".

"...According to Master Melos's report, the matching rate of the earth vein energy nodes of the 360 ​​energy towers that have been built so far has reached over 99%. The preliminary energy guidance test has also fully met expectations. I personally believe that the first phase of the 'purification protocol' has been a perfect success."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a calm yet questioning voice rang out.

"Perfect? ​​Forgive my bluntness, Master Melos, but what I see is not perfection, but... unprecedented risk."

Everyone followed the sound.

Among all the company commanders' seats, a particularly robust Holy Blood Angel with a resolute face like a classical sculpture slowly stood up.

His power armor was a traditional fiery red, engraved with countless badges of honor representing his distinguished military achievements. On his shoulder wore the "Sword of Victory" badge, signifying his status as the company commander of the Fifth Company.

He is Cassian.

One of the most respected commanders in the Ninth Army.

A legendary hero who won unparalleled glory for the Legion in hundreds of brutal interstellar wars.

He is not a villain.

On the contrary, he was the most traditional honor guard in the legion. His loyalty to Saint Gilles was as unbreakable as the red earth of Baal.

But precisely because of this, he harbored the deepest and most practicable vigilance toward Hector Kane, this mysterious "leader of the Way," and the set of theories he brought with him that were full of "heretical" flavor.

His standing up caused the air in the entire conference room to freeze instantly.

Everyone knew that Cassius was about to speak.

And every word he uttered would represent the long-suppressed voice of doubt within the legion.

Cassius did not look at Hector, but instead fixed his loyal and worried gaze on Saint Gilles on the throne.

He first solemnly gave an impeccable military salute.

Then he spoke.

His voice, though not loud, was clear and reached everyone's ears.

“My father, my legion commander. Please forgive my next words of offense. But every word I speak comes from my deepest loyalty to you and to the entire Ninth Legion.”

Chapter 223 The only way to go

Saint Gilles did not speak, but simply looked at him calmly, gesturing for him to continue.

Having received tacit approval, Cassius took a deep breath and began to articulate his concerns clearly and logically.

"First," he held up a finger, "the 'Myriad Spirits Blood Spring Array' designed by Your Excellency the Dao Lord is essentially a massive energy channeling process covering the entire planet. I would like to ask, how is this different from any form of 'large-scale psionic witchcraft ritual' that we have always strictly prohibited?"

This question is like a sharp sword, pointing directly to the core of the entire plan!

“Witchcraft”—for any Astartes, that was the most vicious accusation!

“Second,” Cassius’s voice grew even sterner, “those colossal towers we built with our own hands are engraved with countless strange runes we’ve never seen before, runes that don’t belong to any of the Empire’s knowledge systems. We were told they could channel energy. But who can guarantee that, while channeling energy, they won’t also become… coordinates for those corrupt beings from the warp to invade our homeland?”

"This land beneath our feet, though cursed, is our home! We cannot exchange one unknown risk for another unknown possibility!"

His words resonated deeply with many of the company commanders present. Their faces showed a mixture of agreement and concern.

"Lastly, and most importantly."

For the first time, Cassius's gaze turned to Hector, who sat quietly to the side. That gaze held no hostility, only the purest, most direct scrutiny of a warrior towards the unknown.

"Your Excellency, we have all witnessed your wisdom. You have pointed out the root of our suffering and painted a hopeful blueprint for us. We are grateful to you."

"But," he changed the subject, "the lives and souls of the entire Ninth Legion, over a hundred thousand of the Emperor's most loyal sons, are all staked on your own set of unknown theories that we have never heard of before and cannot understand..."

"My father, forgive my bluntness..."

"...Isn't this a bit too reckless?"

After he finished speaking, the entire conference room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Cassius's three questions struck everyone's heart like three heavy hammers.

He was not challenging the authority of Saint Gilles.

He was protecting this legion in his own way.

Every word he spoke represented the deepest feelings of all the warriors within the legion who upheld tradition and the imperial faith.

All eyes were focused on the throne.

They were waiting to see how their father, their legion commander, would respond to this public interrogation that was almost "insubordination."

According to the Legion's ironclad rules, any warrior who dares to question the Primarch's decisions in public will be considered a traitor and subject to the most severe punishment.

Saint Gilles did not get angry.

There was no sign of offense on his perfect face. He simply gazed calmly at his bravest and most stubborn son.

His thoughts drifted back to the day, several months earlier, when he decided to embark on this momentous project.

That was also in Saint Gilles's private chamber.

“Lord Dao,” Saint Gilles asked, looking at the magnificent array diagram, “Such a massive project, involving the entire Bal star system, should we first report to Terra and obtain the Regent… or even my father’s approval?”

This was not cowardice, but the most instinctive reaction of a loyal son.

Hector hesitated for a moment before giving his reply: "Procedurally, that's how it should be. But Your Highness, we don't have time."

He could not speak openly of the impending, galactic rebellion.

He could only explain it in a more subtle way, but in a way that was equally heavy for Saint-Gilles.

"Being in Terra, I can sense the changes in the Warp more clearly than you do. That Nether Sea is becoming increasingly 'active,' increasingly 'malicious.' A massive storm, powerful enough to overthrow the Empire, is quietly brewing. I cannot predict when it will erupt, but I know it... is getting closer."

"And the symptoms of the Legion's 'blood thirst'... judging from the Space Marines who have been imprisoned during this period, you know better than I how serious the situation is."

"By the time Terra's lengthy administrative approval process is completed, it may be too late."

These words deeply moved Saint Gilles.