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

An invisible yet incredibly real realm of "stillness" and "order" spread outwards in all directions from the jade talisman like a silent tide!

The raging data storm of Kelber and the logic priests behind him, filled with "aggression" and "repulsion," was silently soothed, straightened, and dissolved in the face of this absolutely "harmonious" realm, as if encountering a natural enemy! Their logic engines, which were burning hot from over-computation, were miraculously cooled down under the soothing effect of this "stillness"!

“This…this is impossible!” a logic priest screamed in disbelief and horror.

"This is something that can be carried by a 'device,' amplified by an 'algorithm,' and understood by 'logic'..."

"—Mathematics of a higher dimension!"

"If soul binding is what the great emperor made it possible for the navigators to 'look directly' into the warp and see the starlight after paying a huge price."

"That Heart Jade Talisman transfers a certain cost to the crafting of the artifact, like a power armor for the soul, helping the wearer to 'defend' against the gaze of chaos and 'reduce' the whispers of chaos."

Kelbo, the forging general of Mars and the supreme leader of "materialism," stared intently at the slowly rotating jade talisman, a symbol of "harmony" and "balance," behind his brass mask. His eyes, burning with vigilance, were filled with absolute shock at the complete upheaval of his understanding.

Just then, Hector slowly stood up from his seat. Now, it was his turn to place the final and most fatal gamble in this war between "the Way" and "Iron," a war already fraught with danger.

“General Kelbo, sages,” Hector’s voice was calm yet powerful, “'The Way' needs no debate; it simply 'reveals' itself. Rather than arguing here with pale words about the boundaries between 'soul' and 'data,' it would be better to…”

"Let the results speak for themselves."

He slowly raised his hand, pointing to the "Taoist Heart Jade Talisman" that still radiated a harmonious light.

“I, Hector Kane, in the name of the Dean of the ‘Intercepting Cult Academy’, formally submit a motion to the ‘Imperial Psionic Political Department’.”

"I request that my colleagues in the Political Department and His Majesty the Regent jointly witness the process of having my two chief disciples, Karen and Grol, who have already reached the peak of Qi Refining, wear this 'Dao Heart Jade Talisman' created by the Sage Alkan, and perform a ritual..."

"—A public 'tribulation'!"

He suddenly chuckled: "Just as Instructor Aurelius and Primarch of the Lion King both told me: the straight punch is the shortest."

"Let us use the most irrefutable 'facts' to put a final period to this debate."

Chapter 185 Tectus (Two chapters combined)

Hector Kane's groundbreaking proposal for a "public tribulation" struck the cold, orderly meeting room of the Fulcrum space station like a thunderbolt.

The confrontation between "Tao" and "Iron" was instantly pushed to a new, irreversible peak, filled with a sense of destiny and high-stakes gamble.

The news acted as a powerful catalyst, triggering a violent chain reaction in the turbulent power struggles of Terra.

"Publicly undergoing tribulation!"

These four characters themselves represent an Eastern metaphysical paradox that the imperial bureaucrats could not comprehend at all.

But the absolute confidence behind it, and the fearless spirit to expose the most secret battlefield of the "soul" nakedly under the microscope of the empire's highest power, is enough to move any seasoned politician.

After experiencing the rage of being driven to the brink by mortals, General Kelbo Hall quickly regained his absolute composure, as precise as a well-oiled engine of logic.

He knew he had no way out.

His seemingly impenetrable "materialist" data barrier was easily breached from a higher-dimensional flank by the "Taoist Heart Talisman" of the sage Alkan's "Harmony Algorithm."

He could question Hector's philosophy, but he could not question Alcan's mathematics.

Refusal means fear. It means that he and the "Iron Dogma" he represents, passed down for thousands of years, have exposed the weakness of carbon-based life forms in the face of a mysterious and heretical sect of unknown origin.

This is something Kelbo Hall absolutely cannot tolerate.

Thus, after several standard days of intense debate and political maneuvering, a final resolution, full of compromises and contingency plans, was born.

Kelbo was forced to agree to this public trial, which he considered utterly absurd.

But in this high-stakes gamble that was destined to attract the attention of the entire Terra, he also laid out his final and most vicious contingency plan.

“I agree, Dean Kane.”

In that secret meeting where the final details were decided, Kelber's cold, metallic electronic voice carried a hint of feigned cooperation.

“Let the ‘facts’ speak for themselves; this aligns with the logic of the God of Myriad Machines. Your two chief disciples, Karen and Grol, have both reached the peak of the Qi Refining Realm, with solid foundations, making them excellent samples for conducting the ‘Controllable Spiritual Energy Sublimation Ritual’.”

“However,” he changed the subject, his human eyes, burning with vigilance, fixed on Hector’s calm, expressionless face through the holographic projection, “a truly ‘scientific’ experiment must have ‘universal’ samples. Relying solely on two disciples you have personally trained for years, each bearing your ‘personal imprint,’ your conclusions, frankly, lack sufficient persuasiveness.”

“Therefore,” he slowly tossed out the poisoned dagger that he had prepared beforehand, “in order to prove that your system is not only applicable to hothouse flowers with specific ‘talents,’ but can be truly applied to the hundreds of millions of psionicists in the Empire, I request that, in addition to your two disciples, you must add a special Tribulation Transcender.”

“One ‘volunteer’ personally selected by my Martian Mechanical God Cult.”

This request, seemingly reasonable and scientifically rigorous, exudes a chilling aura of conspiracy in every syllable.

Hector looked at him silently, without answering immediately.

He knew that Kelbo's fangs had finally been fully exposed.

That so-called "volunteer" must be a "logic bomb" that Kelbo had carefully planted when the academy expanded its enrollment, enough to blow the entire trial to smithereens!

That was a vicious scheme that had been planned long ago.

Kelbo firmly believes that no matter how profound Hector's "Tao" is, or how magical the "Tao Heart Jade Talisman" is, it is absolutely impossible to cure a truly insane person whose soul has been completely corrupted by "logical paradox" in just a few months!

He wanted to prove to the entire empire, and to the one on the throne, through a destined, devastating, and undeniable defeat—

How fragile and vulnerable Hector Kane's "way" is in the face of true "madness"!

The entire Wenxinzhai, and indeed all the Terra forces that were watching the storm unfold, were instantly plunged into a suffocating calm before the storm.

All eyes were focused on the mortal standing at the center of the storm.

We await his decision.

"I agree."

Hector's answer was calm and swift.

Without the slightest hesitation or delay.

It was as if Kelbo's trap, which was almost obviously full of malicious scheming, was nothing more than a pastime for him.

This composure and confidence was itself the most silent yet sharpest counterattack, causing a slight, ominous tremor to appear in Kelber's cold, infallible logic core, which was unable to calculate the variables before him.

Terra, the Fulcrum space station.

The circular conference hall that once witnessed the fierce clash between "Tao" and "Iron" has now been completely transformed into a sacred "viewing stand" that commands the attention of the entire empire.

The obsidian round table in the center of the hall has long been removed, replaced by a larger and more ominous device—the "Torture Instrument of the Soul of Truth" from the dark age of technology.

But at this moment, it is no longer a torture device, but the core of a "formation" defined by Hector in the Foundation Building Scroll, which can create a relatively pure "sterile" environment for the tribulation seeker - before the complete formation is ready, this is the compromise that Hector can come up with.

Furthermore, it can more scientifically and specifically observe various parameters during the tribulation process, making it easier to be "observed".

Its surroundings were completely isolated by a transparent observation barrier constructed from several layers of energy fields and Imperial Guard runes.

Beyond the walls, the empire's most powerful figures had already gathered.

This project involves an unprecedentedly high level of involvement with Mars.

Imperial Regent Macardo, Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard Waldo, the "Shadow Lord" of the Assassin's Court, the Chief Justice of the Ministry of Law... all the giants who had witnessed the clash of ideologies were present, standing like silent mountains in the shadow of power, quietly waiting.

More often, there are "observers" from various power structures in Terra.

The group included former noble councilors, generals from the highest command of the military, and even several secret envoys from unknown legions, all clad in black power armor and exuding an aura of ancient ice.

They will use more than 17,000 holographic recording probes throughout the space station to record every detail of this "sacred trial" that concerns the future of the empire without reservation, and transmit it back in real time to the vast power networks they represent.

Today, all of Terra is "gazing" at this place.

Hector Kane, still wearing his simple grey monk's robe, stood calmly before the transparent observation barrier.

It seemed as if what was about to begin was not a high-stakes gamble concerning his and the Jiejiao Academy's survival, but merely an ordinary teaching demonstration.

Standing beside him were his two chief disciples.

Although Karen's face showed nervousness in front of an important person, her azure eyes were filled with absolute trust in her mentor.

She tightly gripped the "Taoist Heart Jade Talisman" that the Sage Alkan had crafted for her. Its warm touch, like the calming hand of her mentor, gently soothed the fear and unease in her heart.

The barbarian youth, Grol, resembled a champion about to enter the arena. His massive body exuded explosive power, yet his eyes were as restrained and profound as meticulously polished obsidian. His "warrior's heart" had already ignited a raging fire for the upcoming challenge.

Just then, another figure, escorted by two expressionless logic priests, slowly emerged from the Martian camp.

He is the "protagonist" that Kelbo Hall meticulously prepared for this play.

He wore a standard red robe of the Mechanic Church, was thin, and had a pale face. His eyes, hidden in the shadow of his hood, gleamed with an almost morbid fervor for "logic" and "data," as well as some... the "stillness" he had gained from his months of advanced studies at the Taoist academy.

His name was Tectus-19. An inconspicuous yet incredibly dangerous name among the billions of tech-priests on Mars.

Although the expansion of enrollment brought a large influx of students into the academy, ... he didn't even need to use the Daoist Explanation of All Things; the Qi Observation Technique was enough for Hector to grasp the basic characteristics of these three thousand people.

Hector's gaze calmly fell on him, and he activated "Aura Observation" once again.

He saw that the "air" of the Tectus-19 was a data swamp that was constantly self-contradictory, conflicting, and tearing apart!

The surface of the swamp glowed with a deep blue light, like a precision circuit board—a barrier of "reason" that he had built over centuries as a technical priest.

But beneath that seemingly perfect rationality lies a much larger, more terrifying, and dark abyss filled with "paradoxes" and "madness"!

Hector could even "hear" a silent, resentful, and venomous howl from that abyss!

That didn't come from the subspace; it was the roar of the "Machine Soul"!

With the help of Alkan's mentor—the high priest who had once stopped Kelbo—he investigated the past of Tectus-19.

A young, brilliant, and idealistic technical priest.

During an archaeological expedition to an ancient data hub from the Dark Ages, he ignored all warnings and attempted to use his fragile carbon-based thinking to forcefully communicate with a "super artificial intelligence" soul that had been dormant for tens of thousands of years and was as vast as a god!

The result was disastrous.

His mind was instantly torn apart by the overwhelming torrent of data, as vast as the universe! His proud "rationality" was utterly corrupted. He became a walking "logic bomb," a madman who didn't even know when he would "explode."

Of course, behind all the colors, there was also the "white" that the past few months of intensive study at the academy had given him. Hector was certain that he had fully received the academy's education.

Even special attention—it's difficult for three thousand people to cover everything, so how could a few "fixed" forces not be able to keep an eye on things?

Hector's lips curled into a smile.

He knew that Kelber had given him the most vicious and interesting test ever.

He slowly stepped forward and stopped in front of the technical priest who was about to step into the "execution ground." He did not say any words of encouragement, but simply placed another "Taoist Heart Jade Talisman" that also shone with harmonious light gently in the priest's cold mechanical hand, which was trembling slightly due to suppressed madness.

“Remember, Tectus. Remember what you’ve learned these past few months.” Hector’s voice wasn’t loud, but it clearly penetrated the core of the other’s chaotic thoughts: “'The Way' is not the answer.”

"It's just another door."

Having said that, he didn't linger and turned back to his position as an "observer".

Meanwhile, Tectus-19 stared blankly at the warm, smooth jade talisman in its hand, a hint of confusion flashing in its eyes, which were filled with madness and pain.

Finally, with the Chief Justice's emotionless gavel, the final curtain was slowly drawn back on this ultimate showdown concerning "morality" and "iron."

Chapter 186 Both Promoted (Two Chapters Combined)

The "Fulcrum" space station, its circular hall constructed of black alloy and absolute rules, was utterly plunged into a deathly silence more terrifying than a vacuum. Above the dome, the enormous golden scales shone brightly, stretching everyone's shadows into incredibly long and distorted shapes, silently announcing the arrival of judgment.

The first person to step into that altar-like "torture space" was the young girl Karen.

She was dressed in a gray monk's robe, looking out of place in the cold, technological environment. She took a deep breath and pressed the "Dao Heart Jade Talisman" tightly against her chest; the warm touch calmed her trembling heart, which was pounding with nervousness.

She slowly sat cross-legged on the ominous black crystal "throne." The moment the serpentine energy conduit connected to her temples, the tribulation officially began.

"The Ascension Ceremony has begun. First Stage: Breakthrough. The one undergoing the tribulation needs to use their own strength and external assistance to open up key nodes within their body, allowing the energy that the Dean calls True Essence to circulate." Alkan's electronic voice broadcast the report emotionlessly.

A massive, pure, yet chillingly cold torrent of energy instantly poured into Karen's body from the core of the "Soul of Truth Torture Device"!

An uncontrollable groan of pain escaped the girl's throat, her jaw trembling violently from the extreme cold!

She felt she was no longer a living being with warmth, but a fragile statue that had been instantly plunged into a deep pool of liquid nitrogen.

The energy from the "Torture Instrument of the Soul of Truth" was not much, but it acted like a fuse, causing her own true essence to break through a certain critical point.

The true essence transformed into a polar ice river composed of absolute zero, raging and eroding through every inch of her fragile meridians!

This was not a burning pain like flames, but a more terrifying, deathly cold that could freeze the very soul into ice shards! A fine layer of frost, shimmering with the light of death, even condensed on Karen's pale cheeks.

Under the catalysis of this external energy, the true essence within her body completely spiraled out of control.

They transformed into billions of enraged ice serpents, driven by a mad rage capable of destroying everything, and crashed headlong into the final barrier that separated life and death, connecting "yin" and "yang"—the gateway to the Ren and Du meridians! With each impact, Karen's soul felt as if it were being torn apart!

"Hold the center!" Karen whispered to herself.

She exerted all her strength, visualizing the Daoist Canon taught by her mentor, and lit up the only light in the dark sea of ​​consciousness that was about to be frozen!

She forcefully gathered and concentrated her collapsing will, like a candle flickering in the wind, and nailed it firmly to that small, last warm sea of ​​qi in her dantian!

That was her only "anchor point"!