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

Its jaw, crafted from fine gold and ivory, even curves slightly upwards in an elegant arc befitting court etiquette, as if...smiling.

This incomprehensible "variable" caused the three Primarchs, who were at the peak of their clash of wills, to freeze for a moment simultaneously.

The thing infiltrated silently, even escaping Hector, who was in the eye of the storm.

But when his gaze fell upon the magnificent legion insignia, his pupils suddenly contracted!

Fabius Bayer!

In a flash, a complete chain of clues took shape in his mind! From the assassination of the nobleman to the confrontation between the three Primarchs, and now to the Servant skull that seemed to be adding fuel to the fire... all the out-of-control points pointed to the same mastermind!

Or rather, a group of them.

Unsure whether it was a conspiracy by Eribas or some other psionic force, coupled with Fabius's whisper at this moment... a group of dark giants who should have had no connection with him in his past life's memories had actually stirred up a monstrous wave in Terra because of the wings of this butterfly?!

The servo skull captured that eternal pause of 0.01 seconds.

It remained silent, but projected an object from its magnificent skull. It was neither a weapon nor an edict.

Instead, it was a data slab polished from a single piece of oddly shaped obsidian that could resonate with spiritual energy. The surface of the slab was shimmering with lifelike lines of light, and in the center was a psionic crystal that seemed to seal a living brain, pulsating slightly.

Immediately afterward, under the watchful and bewildered gazes of the three Primarchs and Hector, the stone tablet was activated.

"Buzz—" There were no words, no images.

Only two massive, chilling "information torrents," large enough to cause the Space Marine think tank to have an immediate mental breakdown, were directly presented.

Those were two “genetic diagnostic reports” filled with Fabius Bayer-esque arrogance and malice.

The first document was "tailor-made" for the Lion of Caliban. It embodies the First Legion's deep-seated "suspicion" and "secrecy," not attributing it to the Primarch's character or the Legion's culture.

Instead, it is defined as a kind of "defect" that originates at the genetic level and can be quantified!

"—First Legion Gene Seed 'Shadow of Caliban' Hereditary Logical Defect Syndrome."

A cold, imprinted title, like a red-hot branding iron, is directly branded into the deepest part of the lion's soul!

Following this was a massive amount of irrefutable "evidence"! The report used more than 17,000 data models to demonstrate in detail how Caliban's Dark Forest left "hidden imprints" full of "survival" and "suspicion" on the genetic seeds of the Primarch when they were still in their infancy!

The report even reached a chilling conclusion that left the lion breathless through a meticulous analysis of data from all the Legion’s battles over the centuries—"veterans" from the Caliban Knights showed an average 37.5% greater "delay in logical judgment" when faced with "sudden betrayal" than "pure" members from Terra!

This "delay," this "flaw," this "logic bomb" hidden in the heart of his most prized legion, is precisely what will lead to the ultimate tragedy known as the "Fallen Ones" in the future...

"--root cause!"

This is not speculation, not doubt! This is "science"! This diagnosis is like a deadly dagger forged from absolute rationality, precisely piercing the already riddled heart of this Knight King, who was forever worried about the purity of the legion!

Another diagnosis, however, offered Conrad Coates, a midnight wanderer driven mad by his own actions, a hopeful yet deadly "honey." It redefined Coates's unbearable "prophetic curse" as a... seemingly curable "illness."

"--Dysfunction of neural synaptic receptors caused by faster-than-light transmission of high-dimensional information."

The report, with its equally extensive yet “humanistic” tone, “proves” to this pitiful prophet that his madness was neither innate nor destined!

It was all because his brain, the most sensitive "biological information receiver" in the galaxy, was subjected to an excessively strong "negative information" shock from Nostrama in his childhood, causing a key "biological filter" inside that was responsible for filtering "useless information" to "overload and burn out"!

"Your suffering does not stem from the 'future' you see, my Primarch." The report concluded with a magnetic voiceover personally recorded by Fabius: "It simply stems from... you have seen 'too much'."

These words, like the dawn of creation, instantly tore through the eternal night that Koz had been shrouded in a bloody future! He was not a cursed monster!

He was just a sick patient who needed to be "fixed"! This diagnosis struck precisely at the deepest part of his heart, the most vulnerable and most longed-for "hope" that even he himself dared not touch!

A hope that can end all suffering and bring true "liberation"!

However, it wasn't over yet. After presenting these two diagnostic reports, enough to throw both Primarchs into mental chaos, all the data on the obsidian tablet vanished instantly. In its place appeared an incredibly magnificent and complex molecular structure diagram, brimming with mathematical and geometric beauty.

The structural diagram resembled a rotating nebula composed of countless luminous atoms, radiating a captivating and enchanting aura of "infinite possibilities." Below the diagram was a concise name, brimming with ultimate allure.

"--Panacea Gene-Strain".

"It can not only 'repair' the 'logical flaws' in Lord Ryan's gene seed, but also rebuild the 'biological filter' that was long ago burned out for Lord Koz." "It can even be optimized and used to... 'perfect' the gene seed of any Space Marine legion, completely liberating us from the pathetic 'human' form that has stagnated for centuries, to embrace... a brand new future belonging to 'gods'!"

This ultimate bait, like a blazing spark thrown into a powder keg of power, instantly ignited the scene!

Saint Gilles's azure eyes, as blue as the sky, suddenly narrowed! The moment he saw the words "perfect the genetic seed of any legion," his compassionate and protective heart couldn't help but think of his own legion's incurable, bone-deep "blood thirst" curse!

The three enormous wills, already in conflict, were utterly overwhelmed at this moment by a new, even larger and more alluring force! Their glorious and dignified "duel" about "justice" and "philosophy" vanished in an instant!

Instead, there is a more primal, and more "human" silence. A silence unique to those facing the "antidote" that can heal their deepest pain, a silence filled with longing, doubt, suspicion, and greed.

The wills of the three Primarchs clashed and dissipated. The space that was being torn apart at Wenxinzhai miraculously returned to calm. But Hector Kane knew that this duel was not over.

Those people want to exploit the contradictions of the Primitives to direct their frustrations towards themselves; to use the problems of the Primitives to negate the ideals of the Academy; and to use the desires of the Primitives to lead them into the abyss...

Hector sighed inwardly...

Philosophy, speculation, and language are no longer useful.

Chapter 176 A Little Knowledge of Martial Arts (Two chapters combined)

"A perfect 'antidote'."

Hector's voice was not loud, but like the only clear chime in the eternal clamor, it resonated clearly in the garden.

"An antidote that claims to 'fix' logical flaws, an antidote that claims to construct 'biological filters,' and an antidote that can even 'perfect' the genetic seed of any legion."

His gaze swept calmly over the three "gods" before him, whose minds were in turmoil due to false "hope," with a hint of pity in his eyes.

"It does sound perfect. Fabius Bayer's analysis is even frighteningly accurate on some levels. He gets your flaws, your pain, and their manifestations right."

"But, Primarchs."

Hector's voice suddenly changed!

"—That's not the 'antidote'!"

"That was merely a temporary escape from your pain, offered by Fabius, the mastermind behind the scenes, to your already overburdened hearts, but one that would drag you into an abyss of no return..."

"—The sweetest poison!"

"Not long ago, I was on board the Third Legion's flagship, the 'Son of Glory.' I also witnessed Fabius use his theories, which are full of 'evolution' and 'science,' to create what he called the first 'perfect prototype'—the Legion's champion, Lucius."

“I saw it with my own eyes,” Hector’s voice turned cold, filled with deep sorrow for that tragedy, “how that ‘perfect’ champion, after the most magnificent sword dance, had his bones shattered and his flesh multiplied, and finally, in front of tens of thousands of his brothers, turned from a god into a... a grotesque, filthy, profane sludge, less than a worm!”

"The analysis may be true, but the conclusion must be false!"

"Using external 'science' to repair the inner 'soul' is tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst!"

Hector posed his final question: "Is there truly a panacea in this world that can solve everything once and for all?"

The entire Wenxinzhai was utterly silent. Hector's earth-shattering, almost blasphemous diagnosis struck the deepest recesses of the three Primarchs' souls like a hammer forged from truth!

"Nonsense!" Finally, it was Caliban's lion that broke the silence.

His green, star-like eyes were fixed on Hector, filled with the absolute calm of a law enforcer and the fury of someone whose authority had been challenged.

"An unverified 'story' from another legion? Is this your 'evidence,' Dean? Are you trying to use this alarmist, subjective 'philosophy' to negate a rational hope built on massive amounts of data and sophisticated algorithms?"

“Philosophers who only talk…” From the shadows, Conrad Coates’s owl-like shriek echoed again, “Your ‘harmony,’ your ‘balance,’ how laughable they are in the face of real pain. You don’t even have the courage to raise a butcher’s knife.”

“Of course I know, but saying these things is pointless.” Hector’s answer was resolute, surprising everyone.

“I also know that the reason why the Empire is the Empire and the Primarchy is the Primarchy is not because of your philosophy, not because of your laws, and certainly not because of the occasional acts of mercy you show.”

Hector's words were more "outrageous" than ever before.

At that moment, it was as if he had shed all the shackles imposed upon him, such as the academy's abbot and the regent's attendant.

"—Because the Empire and you are powerful enough."

The words were simple, yet they were earth-shattering.

The storm of laws roared silently in the shattered garden of Wenxinzhai, as three absolute wills originating from demigods tore at each other, crushing the very foundation of reality to the brink of collapse.

The air was as thick as mercury, and every breath felt like drawing one's soul into the strangulation field constructed from different forms of "justice".

However, at the confluence of those three devastating torrents of will, Hector Kane slowly took a step forward.

He didn't look at the data tablet filled with deadly temptation, nor did he pay attention to the three Primarchs who were already caught up in their own "obsessions".

His eyes, as calm as an abyss, seemed to pierce through all appearances, revealing a deeper, more tragic truth.

He spoke softly, his voice not loud, yet like an invisible hammer.

“You are born demigods.” Hector’s voice was eerily calm.

"His Majesty the Emperor used the greatest genetic alchemy to elevate you from the shackles of mortals, endowing you with godlike power, wisdom, and longevity. You have become the most perfect guardians of the human race, the most brilliant stars."

“But precisely because of this,” his tone suddenly shifted, becoming sharp, like the most composed surgeon dissecting the festering, deadly wound beneath the empire’s glamorous exterior, “deep within your hearts, too, a most primal and deadly ‘seed’ has been planted.”

"That is, you are not the same kind as us."

"This isn't arrogance, it's the truth. Look around."

"Every breath you take, every heartbeat you have, every display of your will that can so easily distort reality, is silently proclaiming an irrefutable fact to this universe."

"And this fact, like the strongest gravitational pull, has distorted everyone's perception. You have begun to see yourselves as shepherds, and billions of ordinary people as sheep that need to be guided, protected, and even 'pruned'."

"And we, those mortals struggling in the mire, also began to look up to you, fear you, worship you, and eventually, forget that we... are of the same origin."

“This is the true hidden danger behind all the contradictions, tragedies, and contradictions of the Empire.” Hector’s voice became distant and profound.

"This problem may not seem fatal now, when the empire is advancing triumphantly and you are shining like the sun. But when darkness falls and the seeds of suspicion take root and sprout, this 'estrangement' that has already penetrated to the bone will become the perfect breeding ground to drag the entire galaxy into war."

He slowly turned around, his dark eyes gradually shifting to yin and yang, sweeping over the three demigods representing different forms of "justice." In his gaze, there was no fear, only an equal scrutiny.

“I have seen the original form of Loja. His piety towards ‘God’ was so great, but because he could not find a response in ‘humans’, he went to the other extreme.”

“I have seen Primarch Forgrim. His pursuit of ‘perfection’ was so brilliant, yet he was almost devoured by his desire for ‘extreme’ because he could not tolerate even the slightest flaw that belonged to ‘mortal’.”

“I see you, my most beloved angel,” his gaze fell on Saint Gilles’s face, which was filled with pain. “Your ‘compassion’ for wanting to protect all life is so noble, yet you have also plunged your soul into an endless war because you have to destroy those ‘imperfect’ lives with your own hands.”

“I also see you, great lion,” his gaze finally settled on the knight king who looked as if he were carved from a glacier. “Your determination to use ‘law’ to protect the ‘order’ of the empire is so firm, yet because you cannot tolerate any variables outside the ‘rules’, you have turned yourself into the most solid and the loneliest prison.”

"You are powerful. You are also great."

"That's why I sincerely want to help you heal the fatal rift that has long existed in your souls."

“But,” Hector said, for the first time, a bitter smile, full of self-mockery and helplessness, appeared on his face.

"It seems that a mortal is not qualified to have an equal dialogue with a god who is high above."

His voice suddenly changed!

"I don't care what dirty purpose that schemer hiding in the shadows, whether it's Albas, Bayer, or some casting general on Mars, or some thousand-year-old noble family on Cloud Peak, is trying to achieve!"

"I don't care how many pieces are left to be placed on this already treacherous chessboard!"

His Dao heart, which had long been perfected and unhindered due to the completion of the Golden Core, was sublimated to the extreme at this moment!

An unyielding will, beyond the measure of any physical law, erupted from Hector’s seemingly ordinary body!

Since achieving the Golden Core and forging his Dao body, this is the first time he has revealed the true tip of the iceberg of his "Golden Core Universe," which contains the universe within, to the world without reservation, except when he was forced to live and die in the "Darkness Realm" that is isolated from cause and effect!

In an instant, the entire "laws of will" of Wenxinzhai were forcibly rewritten!

The three previously opposing and immense wills belonging to the Primarch—Lane's "Law," Koz's "Fear," and Sanguis's "Compassion"—all the phenomena they constructed in this space, whether it was the cold, orderly sky, the desolate abyss that devoured light, or the warm, protective ocean, all shattered and vanished in an instant, as if covered by an irrefutable decree descended from a higher-dimensional being!

The expressions of the three Primarchs all turned slightly serious.

This broken garden, this small world, has finally welcomed back its only and true owner.

Hector's will became the sole "heart of heaven" in this place.

"Today, I, the Daoist Master..."

"I'm not playing chess anymore!"

His simple gray monk's robe fluttered and rustled even without wind! A highly refined true essence, full of the meaning of "battle," erupted from his body like a giant dragon awakening!

"Since you cannot understand 'Taoist teachings'!"

"I also know a little about martial arts!"

“I, Hector Kane, am just a mortal, as you call me!”

"Today, with my 'mortal body' that has not undergone any genetic modification, I stand here, at this moment..."

His gaze, like two of the sharpest swords of judgment forged from the very laws themselves, passed over Saint Gilles's worried face and ignored Koz's morbidly curious gaze, precisely and fiercely piercing the knight king who was like a sculpture carved from a glacier, exuding absolute majesty!

"—I challenge you, Primarch of the First Order, Ryan Johnson!"

"If today I cannot prove, through sheer force, that I am qualified to speak with you as equals!"

"If, today, I cannot use this mortal body to prove to the entire Empire that the Primarch was a demigod, yet also a human! Astartes was a superman, yet also a human!"

"Therefore, all my grand blueprints for 'balance' and 'harmony' in the future will be... castles in the air that crumble at the slightest touch!"