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

“All things arise together, and I observe their return.”

He began to "recap" that thrilling debate about the Dao Heart. The four primordial runes that had been "absorbed" and represented the original body's will, like four different colored stars, slowly rotated in his sea of ​​consciousness, emitting their own light.

He carefully focused his mind on the "sun" that represented Horus Lupecal, burning with supreme glory and power.

What he was looking for was not dazzling light, but the deadly "fiery" energy that he had glimpsed deep within.

We found it quickly.

It was an extremely fine, grayish-black wisp, like a sunspot. It was completely out of place with the surrounding pure golden aura of glory, filled with excitement, pride, and a destructive power that did not tolerate any flaws and was almost obsessive.

Before one's Dao heart is perfected, one can only vaguely "feel" its existence. But now, one can clearly "see" it and even "analyze" it.

"What's this?"

A thought popped into my head.

He then compared this "sample" of "fiery energy" with the auras of the other three "stars" in his sea of ​​consciousness.

Loka's "devotion" is essentially a golden, cohesive force full of dedication and sacrifice, while its dark side is a black hole-like "nothingness" born from the inability to receive a response.

Magnus's "seeking knowledge" is essentially a crimson, exploratory, and creative force of "expansion," but its darker side is a rootless, drifting existence born of overconfidence.

Ferrus's "materialism" is essentially a dark, iron-colored, "heavy" force full of logic and order, while its dark side is a "rigidity" like a stubborn rock caused by the denial of all non-material existence.

Four distinct types of "qi" and four distinct types of "dao".

They have both a glorious side and a fatal flaw. Like yin and yang, they are mutually foundational.

"So that's how it is..." Hector suddenly understood.

He recalled the general principles of diagnosis in the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic: "Observe the pulse and symptoms to know what kind of disorder has occurred, and treat accordingly."

This means that by observing the patient's external pulse and symptoms, one can infer where the Yin-Yang and Five Elements in the body are imbalanced, and then prescribe the appropriate medicine.

Aren't these four original entities the four most complex and powerful "patients"? Their unique "qi" is the most direct "symptom" of their soul state.

A bold idea, one that could change the future, began to take shape wildly in his mind.

Could you... create a completely new supernatural power?

A supreme diagnostic art that does not rely on divination but can discern the essence of all things and predict good or bad fortune solely through direct "observation"...?

Once the thought arises, it spreads like wildfire and is difficult to contain!

Driven by the full force of true energy, the brain began to operate at a speed that surpassed even the logic engine. All the knowledge gained from both of his previous lives was mobilized.

He took the macroscopic observation method of "looking up to observe the celestial phenomena and looking down to observe the laws of the earth" from the Book of Changes as the "canonical principle" and the microscopic diagnostic techniques of "observation, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation" from the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic as the "analytic principle".

Records of warp energy fluctuations in the Imperial archives, reports on alien life forms, analyses of the relationship between psionic emotions and tides... all this cold data was retrieved and used as "building blocks" for constructing supernatural powers.

He began to construct a comprehensive and discerning 'Mirror of All Things' within his spiritual sea of ​​consciousness.

"Loyalty" is defined as pure, stable, and as righteous as gold. "Anger" is violent, scorching, and as fierce as burning charcoal. "Fear" is cold, contracting, and as gloomy as gray mist. "Joy" is warm, expansive, and as vibrant as spring sunshine.

Khorne believers, whose souls burn with an inextinguishable 'bloodthirst aura', can be smelled up close with the stench of scorching brass mixed with the stench of old blood.

The followers of Nurgle, their souls are filled with the 'poisonous aura', as if they can hear countless flies buzzing in their ears and feel the 'mercy' that embraces decay;

The followers of Tzeentch possess an 'aura of deceit' like invisible threads, which appear in different colors and shapes with each observation;

Slaanesh followers exude a deadly sweet fragrance of 'lust,' directly arousing the deepest desires within the observer.

The legal system is becoming increasingly vast and sophisticated.

Ultimately, he transformed his harmonious and unhindered Daoist mind into the "Taiyi Pivot" of the "Myriad Manifestations Mirror," making it the core of all deductions and insights.

When the last "brick" is laid, when the last line of the "algorithm" is written.

There was no earth-shattering roar, only a silent thunderclap from the depths of the soul. It was as if the light and darkness of the inner universe had been reversed for a moment, and when everything returned to calm, Hector's spiritual sea of ​​consciousness had been turned upside down!

A cool, refreshing sensation, like being washed by spring water, washed over his eyes. When he "opened" his spiritual "eyes" again to observe the world, what he saw was... completely different!

In the field of vision, the quiet room, which should have been "empty" and made of absolute dark alloy, was now filled with countless flowing, invisible "colors".

He could "see" that the four guards outside the silent chamber were no longer cold metal statues. They were four...blazing, pure golden, radiant suns! The golden light was so pure and stable, filled with "loyalty," "honor," and "protection," without the slightest impurity. The intensity of the light made the surrounding darkness retreat!

He could "see" that deeper beneath the magnificent palace, an even larger, more vast will, like a golden ocean, covered the entirety of Terra. That will was filled with "order" and "protection," like the strongest dam in the universe, firmly blocking all the chaotic waves from the warp.

At the same time, one can also "see" that in the deepest part of the endless golden ocean, there lies a trace of... a deep-seated, eternal "weariness" and "loneliness." It is a profound shadow that even the golden light cannot illuminate.

One could even vaguely see countless black lines, finer than a hair and representing chaos, along the edge of the shadows, constantly attempting to pierce the golden ocean, only to be silently incinerated by the vast will upon contact. This invisible war has never ceased for billions of years.

He knew that it was the emperor.

The supernatural power is complete!

Hector named it "the art of observing the spirits".

This supernatural power is not simply "seeing through" or "reading minds," but a higher-dimensional "insight" based on the understanding of "Tao," possessing three core functions:

Firstly, "observing people." This involves seeing through the most essential "aura" of a living being. A healthy mortal appears as a gentle, candle-like flame of life; a Space Marine is a blazing furnace of genes and soul fire; a psyker is a dangerous volcano connected to the raging ocean of the warp. Through the color, strength, and purity of this "aura," one can instantly judge health status, emotional fluctuations, and even the essence of the soul—whether it is loyalty or corruption.

Secondly, "observing fortune." This involves vaguely perceiving the "threads of cause and effect" and the "colors of destiny" entwined around major events or key figures. This is not about predicting the future, but rather judging the "probability" of good or bad fortune by observing the flow of "fortune." Glory and victory are accompanied by a dazzling "fortune"; tragedy is inevitably shrouded in a dark, deathly, and ultimately disastrous "fortune." This will be the strongest reliance for navigating the torrent of history, avoiding misfortune, and strategically positioning oneself!

Thirdly, "object identification." He can sense the residual "pheromones" and "energy imprints" of any object. Whether it's the Lyle Demon Sword, filled with "morbid passion," or the Tranquil Jade Talisman, which he crafted himself and contains "the stillness of the primordial tranquility," nothing can escape his eyes. He will become the universe's top "appraiser" and "mine-detection expert."

Hector slowly awoke from his meditation. Opening his eyes, his pupils, as black as an abyss, seemed to hold countless stars rising and falling, eventually settling into a still, undisturbed tranquility.

He knew that he was no longer a "transmigrator" who could only passively deal with crises by relying on his memories of his past life.

From this day forward, he possesses eyes that can actively "observe" the true workings of the universe.

He slowly got up and walked to the wall, which was made of dark alloy and as smooth as a mirror.

Looking at the slender, handsome, black-haired boy in the mirror, dressed in a gray monk's robe.

Under the "qi-observation technique," he clearly "saw" himself for the first time.

He saw that within the slightly frail body of an ordinary person, a meridian (Du Mai) running through the spine, like a dazzling galaxy, was emitting a soft yet firm white light. Countless smaller, stream-like networks of energy (the twelve primary meridians) connected to the main channel, transporting pure, life-giving true essence to every corner of the body.

In the vast sea of ​​consciousness deep within the soul, four runes representing the Primarch's will, like four loyal satellites, slowly rotate around a deeper and purer "core".

That core was neither gold, nor red, nor black.

It is "colorless".

That is the "Tao".

Hector looked at himself in the mirror and a confident smile appeared on his lips.

"Body Refinement Realm, Peak Perfection".

"Next..."

A glint of unprecedented, sharp light flashed in his eyes.

"...Foundation Building!"

Chapter 40 Foundation Establishment Success

When the mind is in harmony with the Tao, supernatural powers naturally arise.

As Hector Kane slowly withdrew from the profound realm of his newly mastered "Aura Observation," he knew that all preparations were complete. The invisible barrier between "Body Refinement" and "Foundation Building" was clearer and more fragile than ever before in his perception.

He didn't hesitate at all.

"Sink your Qi to the Dantian and guide the fire back to its source."

With a low shout rising from the depths of his soul, Hector focused all his attention on the lower abdomen, on the primordial sea of ​​life known in the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic as the "Dantian." His powerful divine consciousness, tempered by the "Debate on the Dao Heart" and infused with fragments of the will of the four original entities, transformed into an invisible hand, mobilizing all the true energy flowing through the twelve meridians.

Streams of pure white true energy, like rivulets, seemed to have heard the supreme command, surging from all parts of the body and internal organs towards the dantian.

If the true essence had previously been passively circulating and silently nourishing within his body, now, under the command of a general, it had coalesced into an invincible legion poised to launch a desperate charge into the unknown...

Soon, all the true essence gathered in the dantian into a rapidly rotating energy vortex that emitted a soft white light. The temperature at the center of the vortex continued to rise, and the density increased steadily, like a miniature star being conceived.

With a thought, the "star" suddenly erupted. A torrent of true essence, condensed to the extreme and almost liquid, like magma erupting from a volcano, no longer flowed along the gentle "riverbeds" of the twelve meridians, but instead, with a world-shaking momentum, crashed fiercely into the "Sea of ​​Yin Meridians"—the Ren Meridian—that ran through the front of the torso.

"boom--!!!"

A wave of excruciating pain, neither physical nor real, swept through Hector's body in an instant. It was not the pain of being cut or stabbed, but a primal pain from the very foundation of his being, as if his very being had been forcibly torn apart and reshaped.

He felt as if his mortal body had become a piece of dry, cracked wood, while the torrent of true energy was a raging flood trying to breach a dam. Within his Ren meridian, the invisible "silt" and "barriers" that had formed innately and blocked the meridians groaned under the impact of this force.

Hector's body trembled violently on the white jade futon, his face instantly turning deathly pale, large beads of cold sweat rolling down his forehead, quickly soaking his black hair. His jaw was clenched so tightly that the grinding sound of his teeth could be heard.

But he did not stop. His Dao heart, that perfect heart repeatedly tempered by the wills of the four demigods, displayed an almost unyielding resilience at this moment.

He contemplated Loka's "devotion," transforming that pursuit of "meaning" into a rock guarding his dantian;

He contemplated Magnus's "seeking knowledge," transforming that yearning for "truth" into a beacon guiding the true essence forward;

He contemplated Pharisee's "materialism," transforming that obsession with "truth" into an anvil for recasting flesh and blood.

He contemplated the "glory" of Horus, transforming that sense of "responsibility" into the driving force that kept him from giving up.

Driven by his will, the torrent of true essence launched desperate charges against the barrier of the Ren meridian time and time again.

I don't know how much time passed; perhaps it was just a fleeting moment, or perhaps it felt like an eternity. Finally, a barely audible yet remarkably distinct sound rang out within me, like a glacier cracking open—

The Ren meridian is open.

An unprecedented feeling of exhilaration spread from his chest to every part of his body. The liquid true essence, like a flood that had finally found an outlet, flowed freely along the newly opened, wide river channel.

But Hector knew very well that this was only the beginning. The real challenge lay in closing the loop.

With another thought, the torrent of true energy flowed without pause, bypassing the dantian and flowing upstream along the already opened Du meridian. What he truly needed to do was not simply open it up, but—connect it. He wanted to completely fuse the Ren meridian, symbolizing "yin," and the Du meridian, symbolizing "yang," these two most core energy channels of the human body, into a perfect closed loop.

If breaking through the Ren meridian is like breaking through the soil and opening up a mountain, then connecting the Ren and Du meridians is like... bringing heaven and earth together.

"what--!!!"

A muffled groan, suppressed to the extreme, escaped from deep within his throat. The previous pain felt like being torn apart, but this pain felt like being slowly ground. Yin and Yang energies are inherently incompatible. When the torrent of true essence attempted to forcefully cross that "chasm," the two completely different laws rubbed violently against each other within his body, the feeling as if even his soul was being ground to dust.

Hector's skin began to flush red due to energy overload, and even fine blood vessels seeped from his seven orifices.

However, his eyes grew even brighter.

"There is nothing in the first place, so how can it cause dust."

He recalled the Zen verses spoken by Loka during his enlightenment, and also his own lineage of "emptiness" and its underlying principles.

Pain is "existence"; but my path is "non-existence".

At this moment, his consciousness sank back into the state of "attaining utmost emptiness and maintaining steadfast stillness." He no longer "experienced" the pain, but simply "observed" it calmly. It was as if he had temporarily detached himself from this physical body that was enduring the ultimate test, placing himself aside as an observer.

Without "my" intervention, the torrent of true essence seemed to have broken free of its final shackles. It was no longer merely Hector's tool of power, but had transformed into... "the Dao" itself.

It no longer rushes about recklessly, but transforms into the enduring power of water dripping on stone.

Once, twice, ten thousand times, a hundred million times...

"Click——!!!"

It was as if the first thunderclap at the beginning of the universe had exploded within him.

The Du Meridian, the yang meridian symbolizing "heaven," and the Ren Meridian, the yin meridian symbolizing "earth," suddenly connect between the upper and lower gums at that moment.

Yin and Yang interact, and Heaven and Earth form a cycle.

A completely new energy, far greater and purer than ever before, was born within him. The liquid true essence instantly completed its final step of vaporization and sublimation, transforming into something akin to "light."

The light circulates along the Ren and Du meridians, forming a perfect, ever-flowing closed loop. It rises from the dantian, ascends along the Du meridian to the top of the head, and then descends along the Ren meridian back to the dantian. This cycle repeats endlessly.

The Small Heavenly Circuit has been completed.

Hector Kane has officially stepped from the "Body Refinement Realm" into the second major realm on the path of cultivation.

Chapter 41 Nowhere to Hide

In the quiet room, he slowly opened his eyes. In those dark pupils, it seemed as if countless stars were being born and dying, eventually returning to a still and undisturbed tranquility.

He could feel that his world had completely changed. His hearing clearly picked up the subtle hissing of bioelectrical signals flowing through the neurons of the Imperial Guard outside the quiet room. Even in absolute darkness, his vision could "see" the finest dust particles floating in space. And though his body was still thin on the outside, every cell inside it surged with explosive power and vitality.

Furthermore, the true essence within his body has undergone a qualitative leap. If the true essence of the Body Refinement Realm is a stream that needs to be constantly replenished with water from the outside, then now, the true essence within his body is a vast ocean that can self-circulate and endlessly generate life.

However, it was precisely at this moment of his triumph that, on this battlefield in a higher dimension beyond the perception of mortals, a silent confrontation, far more dangerous than any interstellar war, quietly began.

Deep within the subspace, in that boundless ocean of pure chaos and madness, a violent upheaval, unprecedented in scale and capable of overturning everything, suddenly erupted.

This distorted sea of ​​psychic energy is a playground for all dark gods and demons, a projection of all emotions in the real universe. It has no laws of physics, no concept of time, only endless chaos. Yet, within this indescribable void, something that should not exist was born without warning.

A tiny, yet utterly pure point of "order," like a lone lamp lit in a storm, abruptly appeared on the barrier of the real universe near Terra. This point of light was extremely faint, yet incredibly resolute. The aura of "stillness" it emitted, so incongruous with the warp, instantly pierced through the chaos of billions of dimensions, spreading in all directions.