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

His gaze, like two merciless iron hammers, slammed down on Hector.

"And you, mortal. You are the source of these weaknesses. You bewitch them with your sweet talk, making them drown in this illusory, flesh-and-blood power. You are spreading a 'thought virus' more deadly than the Nurgle plague!"

"I, Feralus Manus, hereby declare in the name of the Emperor—"

His enormous steel hand, flowing with living metal, clenched suddenly, making a teeth-grinding "crunch".

Even as he was about to give the final order to attack, Hector remained calm.

He slowly raised the data panel in his hand.

On the data panel, the seal of Macardo, composed of a key and an ouroboros, symbolizing the highest executive power of the empire, radiates an undeniable cold light.

Feralus's roar abruptly ceased.

He stared intently at the seal, his face, as stiff as a steel sculpture, twitching slightly with rage. He could disrespect a mere mortal, but he could not disregard the authority of the imperial regent.

“Very good…very good…” he squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth.

“Get out of here, ‘Walker.’” He gave Hector one last murderous glare. “But you’ll remember this. I’ll be watching you, scrutinizing your loyalty with my own eyes, and seeing how you get smashed to pieces in this cruel universe that only believes in steel.”

After saying that, he suddenly waved his hand.

Those imposing steel warships slowly made way for the Seeker, clearing a narrow channel for it.

As the Seeker slowly sailed through that hostile steel forest, Hector stood at the porthole, gazing at Ferrus's massive flagship, the Iron Fist.

He felt no joy of victory, only a growing sorrow for the future.

He knew that today, he had planted another seed. A seed called "prejudice" and "resentment".

This seed will one day in the future, on the black sands of "Istvan 5" scorched by the fire of betrayal, bear the most bitter and bloody fruit.

“My Primarch…” he sighed softly in his heart, looking at the lonely figure that had disappeared into the distance, “You only saw the gentleness of the water, but forgot that when it transforms into a raging torrent, it is equally… indestructible.”

"I hope that before that day comes, you will still remember what I said today. I also hope that you can calm down and think about it..."

"Who is taking advantage of your 'strength', and who is fearing your 'steel'?"

Just then, Hector stepped forward and entered the range of the holographic communication again.

“My Primarch,” he said calmly, his voice not loud, but clear enough to reach everyone’s ears, “you are right, flesh and blood are indeed fragile.”

Felus paused slightly as he was about to cut off the communication.

“But you seem to have forgotten one thing.” Hector raised his head and looked directly at the enraged demigod. There was no fear in his eyes, which were as black as an abyss. “What carries your great will and drives your body of steel is, in the end, still a body of flesh and blood.”

"Therefore, please allow me to leave you with a word of advice, great Lord of Steel."

"The softest thing in the world can overcome the hardest thing in the world."

Felus dismissively cut off the communication; a mere mortal's words could not possibly shake the hardness of steel.

He knew perfectly well that someone had deliberately shown him the "Seekers'" flight path and these unusual psychic individuals.

However, the Primarch did not care.

Felus was far less furious than he appeared. He was browsing the data stream that his Astartes had just compiled, which included not only information about Daowei, but also a detailed assessment of Hector himself.

When a mortal emerges within the Empire capable of influencing the Primarch, approach him, observe him, understand him, so that when necessary, he can act decisively and precisely…

Chapter 37 The Will of the Four Primarchs

When the dark red hull of the cruiser "Seeker," like a drop of blood merging into the sea, silently docked at a top-secret military port in Terra's near-Earth orbit, personally designated by Macado, the clamor and glory of Ulanor seemed like the lingering shadow of a previous era, completely left behind.

Arkan, the sage of the Mechanicus, carrying his almost fanatical passion for the study of "alchemy" and the initial draft of the theory of "resonance between Dao and artifact" given to him by Hector, boarded his private shuttle to Mars, escorted by a silent guard. Before parting, his only human eye gazed deeply at Hector, a look filled with the unspoken, shared anticipation of scientists for the unknown truth.

The thirty cold-faced guards were led by another squad of Imperial Guards to a secret base deep beneath the Imperial Palace, prepared specifically for the Regent's direct agents. There, they would undergo the most rigorous training and become Hector Kane's most reliable eyes and ears in this labyrinth of power and intrigue.

When everything had settled down, Hector finally stepped alone into the final destination of his journey—a secluded meditation room located in the upper part of the Imperial Palace, personally designated for him by Macardo.

There were no luxurious decorations or religious symbols here. The walls were cast from a deep black alloy that could absorb all light and energy fluctuations, forming a seamless whole without a single gap. In the center of the room, there was only a three-foot square futon carved from white jade, and nothing else.

The silence here was almost eerie. The thick alloy walls not only isolated it from all external sounds, but even the background vibrations of subspace and the faint rumble of cosmic rays were completely blocked. Being inside felt like being forgotten by the entire universe, leaving only a pure and utter "nothingness."

For any mortal, even a moment's stay in such an environment would be enough to engulf them in loneliness. But for Hector, this was the most perfect place for cultivation in the entire galaxy.

He could clearly sense that outside this quiet room, there were at least four auras of the Imperial Guard, as deep and unfathomable as the sea, silently guarding this place like soundless lighthouses. In his usual direct manner, Macardo provided Hector with the highest level of protection for his seclusion.

Hector slowly walked to the white jade futon, sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and his aura instantly sank into deathly silence, as if he had merged with the surrounding darkness.

He knew very well that this seclusion was not a simple matter of recuperation. On the surface, his trip to Ulanno had been very fruitful, involving him with several Primal Bodies and even subtly influencing the future trajectory of the Empire to some extent. However, behind this gain was his "weapon," which was still in the Body Refinement stage, forcibly bearing a vast amount of cause and effect far exceeding its own level.

Loka's "enlightenment," Magnus's "resentment," Horus's "pride," and Feralas's "steel"...

These imprints of will from the demigods, like four restless seeds, took deep root in his spiritual sea. They were both insights and hidden dangers; if they got out of control, they would be enough to tear him to pieces.

If he cannot thoroughly digest, absorb, and fuse these elements into one, he will not only be unable to cross the threshold from "body refinement" to "foundation building," but his Dao heart may also collapse during the breakthrough, and he may be devoured by these violent wills, turning into a madman torn apart by contradictory thoughts.

"Attain utmost emptiness, hold fast to stillness. All things arise together, and I observe their return."

The core principles of the Tao Te Ching, like ancient, enduring stars, flowed gently in the lake of his heart. His consciousness began to detach from his cold body, sinking...and sinking further...traversing boundless darkness, finally arriving at the spiritual sea that belonged to him alone.

Initially, the sea remained calm. Its surface was like a mirror, reflecting a starless void. This was the result of his "way of silence," an inner world that was almost "nothingness."

However, this tranquility was soon shattered.

At the edge of the sea, a light shone.

The light was holy and blazing, filled with piety and devotion, faintly echoing the prayers and chants of millions of believers. A "perfect city" built of faith slowly rose in the light, far more majestic than Monaco. Then, a grand and compassionate voice resonated in his mind:

"The individual is insignificant; only by merging with a greater existence does life have meaning! Hector, how lonely and arrogant is your path of introspection? Abandon that pointless ego, embrace the light, become a part of the truth, and you will gain eternal peace and redemption!"

Loka's "devout devotion"!

Bathed in this sacred light, Hector felt a faint urge to prostrate himself in worship.

However, before he could react, the sea on the other side suddenly churned! Towering waves shot skyward, not seawater, but a torrent woven from runes, data, and the mysteries of the universe. A voice, brimming with wisdom and pride, boomed like thunder:

"Faith is merely the excuse of the weak! Truth lies in exploration and control! Power is the only language! Hector, your 'daily loss in the pursuit of the Way' is nothing but self-destruction! Open your eyes! Either control everything, or be devoured by everything! Together with me, tear down the veil and become the ultimate masters of knowledge and power!"

Magnus's "pride of knowledge"!

Under the impact of this vast wisdom, Hector's resolve was violently shaken. He even began to doubt whether his path was truly a... self-imposed shackles of folly.

Immediately afterward, the once calm seawater beneath his feet began to solidify and harden. A massive, cold, logical, and orderly black iron mountain slowly rose from its depths, as if to completely seal him off. A voice devoid of emotion, like the clash of metal, resounded in the deepest recesses of his soul:

Chapter 38 The Four Seals of the Mind

"Everything you discuss, whether faith or knowledge, is nothing more than fragile bioelectric currents in the cerebral cortex, which can be erased at any moment! Reality is matter! It is energy! It is a cold law that can be measured with calipers and deduced with formulas! Hector, your so-called 'true essence,' your laughable 'Tao,' is nothing but an illusion born of your flesh and blood! Flesh and blood are weak! Only steel is eternal! Abandon your fragile perception and embrace this absolute rationality and indestructible material truth!"

Ferrus's "Material Steel"!

Faced with this absolutely rational will, Hector felt as if the true energy within his body was also becoming unstable, as if it would dissipate into nothingness in the next instant!

Finally, above his head, the pitch-black void was utterly torn apart by a more dazzling, glorious, charismatic, and supremely powerful sun! The sun's light was so warm, so convincing, that it almost impossible to resist. A charismatic, fatherly voice came from the depths of the sun:

"Children, there is no need for further arguing. Faith, knowledge, and steel are all merely tools. The significance of tools lies in their correct use. True greatness lies in leadership! In bringing all different forces together under your banner to conquer, to triumph, and to forge an unprecedented future for humanity! Hector, your 'stillness' cannot bring victory. Lift your heads, look at me, feel this glory, accept this authority! Follow me, and you will no longer be a solitary traveler; you will become... the creator of history!"

Horus's "Flame of Glory"!

Four absolute wills from the Primarch, powerful enough to form their own laws, transformed into four supreme inner demon tribulations at this moment! Logar's City of Faith attempted to "assimilate" his soul, Magnus's tidal wave of knowledge attempted to "drown" his mind, Feralus's Iron Mountain attempted to "imprison" his true essence, and Horus's glorious sun attempted to "evaporate" his self!

The four-fold ultimate move completely locked down his already fragile "balance" from four dimensions!

His spiritual sea began to boil and twist violently under the frenzied tearing of these four forces! Countless bottomless cracks appeared on the surface of the sea! He felt as if his soul was being torn into four pieces!

The "balance" he painstakingly constructed, crushed by these four sacred mountains symbolizing "absoluteness," is like a spider silk that could break at any moment, emitting a mournful cry of unbearable burden, and will completely collapse in the next instant!

A desperate thought quietly surfaced in his mind.

However, it was precisely at this most critical moment, when everything was about to collapse completely, in the deepest part of that torn spiritual sea, at the "origin" that no amount of violent force could reach, that the ancient and profound text of the Tao Te Ching rang out on its own, like a morning bell and evening drum.

"To the utmost emptiness..."

"Staying still and steadfast..."

In the instant before his soul was torn apart, his instinct for survival overwhelmed everything! He no longer tried to "balance" or "resist," because the "me" that craved balance and resistance was the very core being torn apart, the source of the pain! Rather than passively disintegrating, he chose to actively let go of this "me"! He chose to abandon himself.

His mind was no longer that of a small "self" trying to find a foothold among the four great mountains.

He transformed into the "earth" itself, which bears the four great mountains.

His consciousness was no longer that "ocean" torn apart by the storm.

He transformed into the "void" itself, which encompasses the entire ocean.

A miraculous change then occurred.

When Hector's consciousness completely sank into the state of "attaining utmost emptiness and maintaining steadfast stillness," the four violent forces that had been trying to tear him apart suddenly... lost their target.

They were still roaring, still shining, but they could no longer harm him. Because the "Hector" who could be harmed had, for the time being... "no longer existed."

He transformed into a mirror. An ancient mirror, polished to its finest, absolutely smooth, and spotless.

Loka's "devout devotion" is reflected in the mirror. What Hector sees is no longer blind worship, but the purest pursuit of "meaning".

Magnus's "pride in seeking knowledge" is reflected in the mirror. What Hector sees is no longer a dangerous game of fire, but an unceasing quest for "truth".

Ferrus's "material steel" was reflected in the mirror. What Hector saw was no longer stubborn prejudice, but the ultimate respect for "truth".

Horus's "flame of glory" was reflected in the mirror. What Hector saw was no longer dangerous ambition, but a courageous undertaking of "responsibility".

He stopped fighting them and began to...understand them.

"I see……"

A sudden realization slowly rose in his mind.

His "way of balance" is not a denial of these things. On the contrary, his "way" is to encompass them all!

Piety, without the guidance of wisdom, becomes superstition.

Wisdom, without the constraints of reality, is just empty talk.

Reality, without the impetus of ideals, is lifeless.

Ideals without the support of faith are nothing but illusions.

Yin and Yang are interdependent and neither can be lacking!

"I don't need to choose."

“I am the ‘middle’.”

The moment this thought became completely solidified, a tremendous change occurred in Hector's mental sea of ​​consciousness!

The four towering illusions of "inner demons" did not dissipate, but instead shattered and transformed into four most fundamental law imprints!

The golden chalice represents "piety", the crimson vortex represents "knowledge", the black iron anvil represents "materialism", and the platinum morning star represents "glory"!

Like weary birds returning to their forest, they willingly merged into his sea of ​​consciousness!

At that moment, he felt as if he had personally borne the weight of Loka’s faith, experienced Magnus’s ecstasy at touching the truth of the universe, touched Feralus’s unwavering belief in the eternity of matter, and felt Horus’s glory and loneliness in commanding a million soldiers!

His sea, instead of being torn apart, became even wider, deeper, and more...complete.

In the quiet room, Hector Kane slowly opened his eyes.

The room remained shrouded in absolute darkness and deathly silence.

But his inner world has already undergone a groundbreaking reshaping.

His Dao heart was tempered into something perfectly clear and unbreakable in this direct confrontation with the wills of the four demigods.

He felt an unprecedented sense of exhilaration. The weariness that had originated in Ulano and seeped into his soul had vanished completely. In its place was a tranquility and fulfillment born of profound enlightenment.

He knew that the gate to the Foundation Establishment Realm had opened wide before him. He also understood that behind this gate lay not only greater power, but also the power to manipulate the chessboard of destiny in this dark universe, for humanity and for the "Dao" he cherished…

The first fulcrum.

Chapter 39 The Art of Qi Observation (Two-part long chapter)

A mind that is in harmony with the Tao, a sea of ​​consciousness that is clear and pure.

Hector Kane broke free from the perilous clash of the four demigods' wills, and after fusing those fragments of "Tao" into one, he did not rush to break through the "Foundation Building" barrier that was just around the corner. He knew that although his inner universe had been stabilized after undergoing a world-shaking reshaping, it was filled with countless new and yet-to-be-understood "laws".

At this moment, he resembled a scholar who had just received four ancient and massive databases. Although he had grasped the core ideas and was spared from being overwhelmed by the massive flow of information, he still needed time to index this data and write a completely new algorithm that could transform it into usable "knowledge".

He sat quietly in that absolute darkness and deathly silence, his mind once again sinking into a spiritual sea that was wider and deeper than ever before.

This time, he did not seek "stillness," but chose "observation and recovery."