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

"In the name of the Lord of Mankind, the Emperor, I hereby proclaim this decree."

These words seem to possess a magical power that makes them come true.

Everyone present, regardless of their status, stood up abruptly, faced the Regent, and performed the highest level of courtesy!

This is the highest tribute to the Lord of mankind.

Makado's voice was ancient and calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.

"First. The Jiejiao Academy, which cultivates spiritual energy pillars for the empire and opens up a completely new path for spiritual energy, has passed the inspection. Imperial decree: The Academy must increase the number of cultivators by a hundredfold within ten years, starting today."

“All Foundation Establishment cultivators, after passing the examination by the Psionic Political Department, are permitted to enter various psionic-related departments of the Empire, including the Star Language Court, the Navigator Court, the Assassin Court, the Administrative and Judicial Court, etc., as well as the Astartes Legion, to serve as psionic advisors.”

boom--! ! ! !

This news is even more explosive than the previous "84% success rate"!

This is tantamount to the Emperor personally acknowledging that the "cultivators" trained by the Dao Academy are officially certified by the Empire as high-level spiritual energy talents!

They are elites, capable of fighting alongside Space Marines!

The repercussions of the Nicaea Conference have only just subsided today.

A new ecosystem for Imperial psionicism is coming.

Of course, it was foreseeable that the Primarchs of Nicaea who strongly opposed psionic powers at the time would not quietly accept all of this.

However, this edict still paved a broad road to the core of imperial power for the future of all Daoist cultivators!

However, what Makado said next was truly earth-shattering.

He turned his gaze to Hector.

He looked at the third stone tablet, which was still blank to this day, with only two large characters engraved on the top.

"Secondly, all Daoist cultivators who reach the so-called 'Golden Core' realm will be bestowed a 'Daoist title' by the Lord of Humanity as an honor."

"Today, by imperial decree, Hector Kane is officially appointed as the Master of the Jie Sect Academy—"

Makado paused, each word like a hammer blow striking everyone's heart.

"The name of the 'Dao Lord'!"

"Under the Dao Lord, their guard structure is permitted...on par with the Primarch!"

Makado tapped his finger lightly, and psionic energy surged forth. A few grains of sand silently slid off the Golden Core Stele, revealing a line of text:

Dao Master Hector Kane

The whole world seemed to have fallen into absolute silence.

A name recognized by the Lord of Mankind.

It can be ranked alongside the Primarch's Guard!

This name exploded in everyone's minds like a supernova!

Although it hasn't been explicitly stated that the academy will have the structure of a legion, is this treatment far off?

What exactly constitutes the Primarch's Guard? The Empire has not provided a clear definition. Does the entire Astartes, which possesses the Geneseed, qualify as the Primarch's Guard?

This represents more than just glory.

It is a completely new and tangible...

Hector slowly straightened up.

He did not look at Macado, but turned to face the unchanging throne.

He can feel it.

That majestic, grand gaze, transcending time and space, is watching over me.

He slowly raised his hands, crossed them in front of his chest, and performed the most sacred "Eagle Salute" of the empire.

His voice was clear, respectful, and firm, full of power.

"The Emperor's glory guides humanity's path forward!"

"Hector Kane obeys the Emperor's decree!"

The Jiejiao Academy, headed by Hector Cain, has become history.

In its place came the master of the Jiejiao Daoyuan.

He was bestowed an imperial title by the Emperor, becoming the first psionic cultivator in the human empire to possess a Daoist name.

This name will spread throughout millions of worlds in the shortest possible time through the transmission of star language.

The changes at Wenxinzhai today are like a stubborn rock thrown into the stagnant waters of the Milky Way, which will surely stir up a huge wave.

And that figure known as the "Dao Lord" will stand at the crest of the wave, becoming a new existence that countless people look up to, speculate about, and even... revere.

An era belonging to "Tao" has officially begun, facing the sea of ​​stars.

Chapter 206 Assassins Alliance

The celebrations of Terra must eventually come to an end.

As the three majestic jade tablets, symbolizing the foundation of the Daoist academy, slowly sank into the ground under the watchful eyes of countless people, and were once again sealed by the earth of Wenxinzhai, this tribulation ceremony, which was worthy of being recorded in the history of the empire, officially came to an end.

The VIPs who attended the ceremony, filled with unspoken thoughts and awe, began to slowly leave.

Their steps were much heavier than when they came.

A group of people gathered in twos and threes, speaking in hushed tones, discussing something intensely. Their eyes held a mixture of astonishment, doubt, and an undisguised flame of desire.

“Eighty-four percent…can you believe that number? In the name of the Emperor, it’s practically a myth.” A nobleman dressed in the uniform of an Imperial General murmured to his companion, as if he were still in a dream.

“Myth? I think it’s the most ingenious deception ever.” His companion, an Imperial official with a stern expression and sharp, piercing eyes, said, “I don’t believe any system can so easily control the warp. There must be a deadly price hidden behind this, one that we haven’t yet seen.”

"The price? Didn't you hear the Regent's decree? The Emperor himself endorsed it! This is already the official will of the Empire!"

“Official will…” The official snorted coldly, said no more, and turned to blend into the departing crowd.

Amidst this clamor, Hector remained oblivious in the center of the training ground.

He was methodically arranging for the fifty-two newly appointed teaching assistants to soothe and guide the still agitated Qi Refining stage disciples.

"Barrett, I'm entrusting the disciples of the Martial Arts Hall to you. Let them know that Foundation Establishment is not the end, but only the beginning. From today onwards, the training will be doubled."

"Tectus, take your men and collect everyone's physical data to create a file. I need to know exactly what quantifiable changes have occurred in the bodies and souls of mortals who have reached the Foundation Establishment stage."

"Karen and Grol, as the senior brothers and sisters, you should take the lead and go see the disciples who failed their tribulations. Don't let them have any lingering resentment. Tell them that failing once doesn't mean they will fail forever."

"The journey is long and arduous; one's state of mind is paramount."

Each instruction was clearly issued.

The newly appointed teaching assistants quickly adapted to their new roles and began to fulfill their responsibilities.

The entire Taoist temple was like a precision machine that had just been upgraded. After a moment of high-power operation, it quickly and smoothly entered a brand-new workflow.

Everything seemed to be in perfect order.

Hector seemed to sense something and turned his head slightly.

The space beside him underwent a subtle distortion of light and shadow.

It was as if someone had used an invisible paintbrush to gently paint over the reality there.

Immediately afterwards, a figure appeared silently beside him.

It is an existence that cannot be accurately described.

It wore a suit of jet-black power armor that seemed to absorb all light, yet the armor bore no insignia. Its form shifted dramatically, sometimes towering like a royal guard, sometimes shrinking to the size of a mortal. Its face was shrouded in absolute shadow, as if its very essence was shadow itself.

The Grand Master of the Assassin Court.

The Empire's highest-ranking "ghost".

"Shadow Master".

It stood there, as if it had been there for an eternity. None of the Daoist disciples coming and going could see it. Even Hector's divine sense, which had reached the Golden Core level, did not notice anything unusual until a second before it appeared.

"A good performance, Kane 'Master'."

A synthesized voice, devoid of any emotion, resounded directly in Hector's mind.

“You and your so-called ‘Tao’ have exceeded the highest expectations of the Assassin’s Court.”

Hector did not turn around, but calmly continued to issue the last command before slowly turning around and nodding slightly to the shadow.

“Unexpected, yet reasonable,” he replied, also on a spiritual level.

"Oh?" The voice of "Shadow Master" seemed to carry a hint of amusement. "It seems that you have more confidence in your 'Way' than we bystanders do."

“Confidence comes from understanding the rules,” Hector said. “I’m just laying out a path that already exists.”

"'Road'..." "Shadow Master" paused for a moment, seemingly pondering the meaning of the word.

"A path that can reliably and mass-produce loyal psionicists. This is indeed... a gift that would make even the Emperor take notice." TA then changed the subject, "According to our previous contract, you have proven your worth. Therefore, the contract will move to the next stage."

"The Assassin's Court never hesitates to invest in its allies."

"So, I've brought you a token of my sincerity."

As TA finished speaking.

From the shadows behind them, another person slowly emerged.

That face, exquisitely sculpted like a classical sculpture, that signature short silver hair, and those unfathomable, vacant eyes that seemed capable of devouring all the light of the soul.

Hector's gaze sharpened slightly.

Code name: "Echo".

He certainly remembered the assassin, Chulisas, and the unique, almost anti-existent, emptiness emanating from her. He had already experienced it firsthand at the Inquiry Hall; it was an absolute "nothingness" that could make any psionicist instinctively tremble.

“Isabel, codename ‘Echo’.” The Shadow Lord’s voice rang out again. “You should already know her. From today onwards, she will be officially assigned to your side as the Assassin’s Court’s ‘liaison officer’.”

"She will help you deal with some... 'noise'. At the same time, she will also be responsible for relaying the 'voice' between us."

Hector's eyes were calm and undisturbed.

He understood, of course, that this was both aid and surveillance.

A Churisas assassin was openly and closely following him. This was a "treatment" that even some Primarchs had never received.

This means that the Assassin's Court has elevated his importance to a strategic level.

He accepted this "kind offer".

Because he knew that in this dark forest, any powerful ally was invaluable.

Hector's gaze shifted to Isabel, who was also looking at him with the same unwavering professionalism and indifference, as if their previous encounter had never occurred. They stared at each other silently for a moment, as if reaffirming their mutual presence.

“I accept this arrangement,” Hector replied to “Lord Shadow.”

Isabel, or "Echo," takes a step forward.

That feeling of emptiness in the soul vanished in a flash.

She gave Hector a simple, courtly greeting, typical of the Assassin's Court. No words were spoken; she simply reaffirmed her target with her empty eyes.

A brand new and subtle symbiotic relationship is formally established at this moment.

"Finally," the Shadow Lord's voice rang out again, carrying a hint of warning.

"From this day forward, your name will no longer be a regular 'newsletter' in Terra."

"It will appear on the desks of at least half... the Primarchs as the highest priority intelligence."

"Their curiosity about you will far exceed your curiosity about them. Some people will see you as hope. But many more will see you as... an outsider."

"As an ally, the Assassin's Court will keep its promise. From this day forward, the Academy will have access to our highest level of intelligence access. All encrypted intelligence concerning the Primarch, Chaos, and the movements of the Imperial high command will be available to you."

"Make good use of it."

"because……"

"The storm has begun."

The blurry figure of "Shadow Master" once again disappeared into the shadows, as if it had never existed.

Only Isabel remained, standing silently behind Hector like a silent blade of the void.