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

Margo, the World Eater commander who dared to question the endless rage of his Primarch Angron in the arena of Nukelia.

Zaharel, the Dark Angel think tank in the dark forest of Caliban, harbored the deepest anxieties about Ryan Johnson's suspicious nature.

Even... Azek Ahriman, the chief think tank of the Thousand Sons who was strolling through the gardens of Nicaea, striving to save the Legion's knowledge, had not yet entered "that kind of predicament" at this moment.

"Find them, sir."

Chapter 93 Upholding Righteousness to Eliminate Evil

“Find them, my lord.” Hector’s voice carried an undeniable certainty. “Then, discreetly, ‘reveal’ the spark of the ‘Way of Silence’ to them.”

“We can’t teach directly, that would alert all the Primarchs. We need to use a… more subtle approach.”

His eyes gleamed with a cunning, fox-like light: "We can disguise the simplified 'Heart-Cleansing Talisman' as a fragment of 'energy shield' technology from some lost ancient Terran era, and let it 'accidentally' appear in the archaeological discoveries of some Martian technocrat."

“We can package the martial arts theory of ‘The Way of Silence’ into a ‘lost ancient human martial art’ that can greatly enhance the battlefield survivability of soldiers, and let it be ‘accidentally’ unearthed from a forgotten ruin by an Imperial Army reconnaissance team that is on an exploration mission on the border.”

"At the same time, I also plan to systematically compile the basic methods of the 'Way of Silence' into a book."

Once the first volume is completed, and after your review, we can even dissect its most core chapters into countless philosophical 'maxims.' Let them appear, under the name 'The Emperor's Reflections During the War of Unification,' on the private data panels of those most steadfastly loyal commanders….”

“We don’t force, we don’t indoctrinate. We simply…sow.”

“We give them tools, we give them theories, we give them another possibility. As for whether these ‘seeds’ can take root and sprout in their hard soil full of iron and blood, that depends on their own ‘Dao Xin’ (the heart of the Way), on their own ‘choice’.”

“This is an open conspiracy, my lord.” Hector’s voice became incredibly deep and sincere.

"A subtle and pervasive strategy. What we offer is not 'trickery,' but 'hope.' What we rely on is not 'deception,' but... the most primal and inextinguishable yearning for 'order' and 'light' within human nature."

"If in the future, a storm powerful enough to sweep across the entire galaxy were to descend; if one day, countless loyal warriors were to fall into despair at the whispers of chaos, and become lost in confusion because of the collapse of their faith..."

“These tiny ‘seeds’ we sow today will become the last straw they can grasp in that endless darkness. They will become indestructible lighthouses, guiding lost fleets home.”

"This is the only 'prescription' I can offer for the unknown 'plague'."

"—Uphold righteousness to dispel evil."

When Hector finished speaking, the entire quiet room fell into a long, deathly silence once again.

Macado's ancient eyes, seemingly having seen through the river of time, scrutinized the boy before him for a long time, carefully. He was no longer looking at a useful tool, an interesting variable.

Rather, he is an equal, worthy of respect... a "strategist for the nation".

A long time, a long time.

Makado slowly stood up from behind the rustic wooden table.

He neither immediately agreed nor immediately disagreed. He simply walked slowly to the enormous holographic star map.

He extended his withered, gloved finger and gently touched a few points of light on the star map.

“The Death Guard Legion, Seventh Company Commander, Nathaniel Garro.” His voice was aged, yet carried an unquestionable authority that spoke of his profound knowledge of all the Empire’s power. “An…interesting soul. He possesses all the tenacity of his genetic father, but he did not inherit his hatred for everything. He is a rough diamond, untouched by corruption.”

“Ultraman Legion, Honorary Company Commander, Ionid Tillman.” He lit another spot of light, “A… absolute idealist. He firmly believed in every word in the Imperial Truth about ‘reason’ and ‘order.’ But he also harbored the deepest bewilderment at Guilliman’s overly harsh, almost mathematically formulaic approach to military discipline.”

"And they..."

Makado's fingers, on the star map, were like those of the most elegant conductor, illuminating one unknown name after another, hidden deep within the legions.

Hector watched silently, his heart churning with turmoil.

He discovered that the names Makado pointed out overlapped by more than 70 percent with the "list" from another time and space in his own mind!

This living legend, this old man who forever stands in the shadow of the Emperor, is not unaware of the undercurrents within the Legion!

He had already firmly marked every special, potential-filled "seed" on his chessboard! He just lacked a "spring" that would allow these seeds to sprout "reasonably"!

And he, Hector Kane, and the "Way of Silence" he brought were the only "east wind" that came across tens of thousands of years of time and space!

Perhaps, on the very first day he discovered the Way of Silence, the old man had already prepared this list, waiting for him to return to the room with a certain idea in mind.

......

“Your plan is excellent, child.” Makado slowly turned around, revealing for the first time a smile that belonged to a kindred spirit. “It has brought a completely new ‘variable’ to my game, which had long been deadlocked, and is full of infinite possibilities…”

"I approve."

His voice was concise yet carried immense weight.

“From today onwards, the ‘Seed’ Project will be carried out by you and me as a top-secret operation within the Empire.”

In his ancient eyes gleamed a shrewd light that no one could understand, the light of the "chess player": "You are responsible for providing the spark of the 'Tao'. And I am responsible for opening up a safe passage for these sparks to reach the souls that need them most."

“My scribes will forge the most perfect ‘excavation report’ for you.”

My archaeological team will find the most 'suitable' lost ruins for you.

My agents will ensure that these 'lost martial arts techniques' fall 'perfectly' into the hands of those we've chosen.

“And you, child,” Macado’s gaze returned to Hector, his eyes filled with expectation, “while you sow hope throughout the galaxy, do not forget to water that fragile sapling that has just taken root for yourself.”

"Go. Do what you must do. The game of the galaxy is far more complex than you imagine."

"The Emperor's flawless state is where our loyalty lies."

Chapter 94 Return to Mars

When the "Seed" project, which concerned the future of the empire, quietly came to a conclusion in the silent contest between the Imperial Regent and Hector Kane, the atmosphere in the quiet room was like a bowstring stretched to its limit.

After firing that decisive arrow, it slowly returned to a deeper, more subdued calm.

All living beings should return to their proper place and follow their own "path".

The first to leave was the sage Alkan from Mars.

This high priest of the Mechanicus, who revered logic and data, was now using his dozens of optical sensors, which shimmered with a ghostly blue light, to greedily scan the cold, stagnant container, which was wrapped in layers of energy fields and royal runes, with an almost religious fanaticism.

Sealed within was the most perfect "logical paradox" he had ever seen in his life—a chaotic demonic sword that was "self-purifying".

“Its ‘path’ is ‘dying’.” Alcan’s electronic voice rang out in Hector’s private communication channel, filled with the contradictory emotions of a scientist facing a “miracle” that cannot be explained by existing theories, a mixture of confusion and excitement.

"But its 'vessel,' its material structure, is more stable than imagined. Kane, the 'resonance between the Dao and the vessel' you mentioned might... be the long-lost key to unlocking the ultimate mystery of the Myriad Machines God."

Hector did not answer immediately, but solemnly handed another data panel to Alcan's cold mechanical arm, which was made up of countless gears and pistons.

That was a draft of a theory entitled "The Theory of Dao-Qi Resonance," which not only contained the law of "energy harmony and matter resonance," but also, for the first time, provided a preliminary explanation of his "Daoist alchemy" technique, the core alchemical philosophy of "ruler, minister, assistant, and envoy" and "yin-yang harmony," using logical runes and energy formulas that Mechanics could understand.

This was the first "scripture" he prepared for his ally who was about to embark on the path of "preaching".

“Sage,” Hector’s voice was calm and profound, “the authenticity of this sword may no longer matter. What matters is that it, and the story behind it, has opened a door for you to a completely new and unknown world.”

"Whether the world behind the door is 'truth' or 'heresy' is something you will have to verify for yourself using the thousands of furnaces on Mars."

He paused, then added, "Regarding that sword, my 'Dao' tells me that its 'annihilation' may not be the end, but rather a... deeper level of 'dormant'."

Your "instrument" might be able to find that illogical "disguise" in its material decay. After all, true death, with its process of entropy increase, should be irreversible.

Upon receiving these two pieces of information, Alcana's massive cyborg body entered into a high-speed calculation that lasted for several seconds.

His only human eye was fixed on Hector, its gaze flashing with a storm of data.

“…An interesting hypothesis.” After a long pause, his electronic voice rang out again, “I will incorporate the variable of ‘disguise’ into my core algorithm. By the God of Machines, if truth is hidden in deception, then let logic be the ultimate weapon to tear apart all disguises.”

He performed an ancient salute to Hector, a salute belonging to the Mechanic Order, filled with the clanging of gears.

“Everything has its own logic. If the old logic cannot explain it, then it means that we need a completely new logic.” His electronic voice carried a hint of the unwavering determination of a seeker of truth.

“I will return to Mars. In the name of the God of Machines, I will use the most sophisticated instruments to dissect every ‘logic’ of this sword and to verify every ‘variable’ of your ‘theory’.”

Makado's voice came from the side.

He handed Alkan a token that shimmered with red light, representing the highest level of access. “Sage, you are not alone on this journey. Not everyone on Mars has turned their heads into rusty cogs like the one who forged the general. Within the ‘Data Priest’ faction, there are still some… intelligent people who yearn for a ‘new algorithm’.”

“This token will open the doors to their lab for you. Tell them this is a ‘suggestion’ from Terra.”

Alcan took the token, his only human eye giving Macado a deep look before turning to Hector.

He didn't say another word, but silently, carrying the stasis container, under the "escort" of the Silent Guard, he turned around and stepped onto the teleportation platform leading to the landing pad.

Hector knew that his seed, which he named "the unity of the Way and the instrument," had been sent, along with this inquisitive sage, to that hardest and most obsessive red soil.

Will it wither due to its incompatibility with the environment, or will a completely new "World Tree" grow from the cracks in that steel, enough to overturn the entire belief of the Mechanicus?

He could only wait quietly.

The instant Alkan's figure disappeared into the teleportation light, another squad of Imperial Guards clad in dark gold power armor appeared silently, like ghosts emerging from the shadows, before the thirty Dao Guards behind Hector.

The lead guard wore armor that was more ancient and menacing than Marcus Aurelius's usual attire. He wore a death mask made of pure gold that covered half of his face.

He didn't say anything to Hector, but simply made a simple, unquestionable "follow" gesture to Barrow, the leader of the Dao Guard.

Barrow, the survivor from the ruins of Monaco with a hideous scar on his face, silently turned around and knelt on one knee in front of Hector.

He didn't utter a single word of loyalty, but instead, with his long-dead, abyss-like eyes, he gazed deeply at his "mentor."

Those eyes held a thousand words: gratitude, trust, and above all, anticipation.

Then he stood up and led his thirty equally silent brothers, like thirty walking, gray tombstones filled with the will of revenge, following the Imperial Guard into the deeper, unknown darkness beneath the Imperial Palace.

Hector watched their retreating figures silently until the last wisp of gray disappeared at the end of the corridor.

“Aren’t you worried, child?” Makado’s voice rang in his ears. “You’ve handed me the sharpest sword you’ve forged yourself. Aren’t you afraid… I’ll use it to cut things that shouldn’t be cut?”

Chapter 95 The Silent Cellar

Hector calmly replied, “They are themselves. What they are protecting is not me personally, but that vow… to prevent the tragedy of Monaco from repeating itself. I believe that no matter where they are, no matter for whom they fight, they will never forget their ‘way’.”

“Very good.” Macado nodded, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. “I hope so.”

He paused, as if explaining to Hector: "The place they're going to is called the 'Silent Cellar.' It's a secret base three thousand meters below the Imperial Palace, not recorded in any official records. That's where my 'Shadows' are born and sleep."

"There they will receive the Empire's most rigorous special training, specifically designed to combat the infiltration and corruption of Chaos. They will learn how to disguise themselves, how to stealth, how to... walk like true ghosts in the shadows of Terra."

“At the same time,” Makado’s voice turned cold, “they will also begin to carry out some of the dirtiest and most necessary tasks, which I have personally assigned.”

"Terra is not as glamorous as it appears. Beneath this cradle of human glory lies countless 'cancer cells' from the warp, quietly spreading. Cults, secret meetings, and corrupted nobles tainted by the whispers of chaos..."

"They are like venomous snakes lurking in the heart of the empire, ready to deliver a fatal blow at the most critical moment."

“The Imperial Guard are the Emperor’s protectors; they are too dazzling to walk in the shadows. And those newly formed… secret societies are too young and full of prejudice.” Macardo looked at Hector.

"And your Dao Guardians, they are special. They have an instinctive, pure hatred for Chaos. Their 'Way of Silence' is the best weapon against the corruption of the mind. They are born... Demon Hunters."

"They will become an unknown scalpel in my hand. For me, for the empire, to remove those cancerous tumors that are about to become cancerous."

Hector fell silent. He knew that Macardo was using his most direct method to provide the Dao Guardians with the cruelest and most effective "testing ground."

The "Seekers of the Way" on Mars, the "Destination" of the Way Guardians.

The two seeds he planted with his own hands were, at this moment, transplanted by this living legend into two completely different, yet equally dangerous and opportune, soils.

A clue will lead us into the cold heart of the Mechanicus, a place filled with logic and gears, to challenge the absolute taboos about "soul" and "machinery" that have been passed down for tens of thousands of years.

Another clue leads to a future exploration of Terra's dark abyss, rife with intrigue and betrayal, to confront the ugliest, yet most real, aspects of human nature hidden deep within... chaos.

He himself, the sower, will be alone, educating those tender souls who have just stepped onto the threshold of the "Dao", and also giving Dao Wei the last lesson.

On one hand, he sought ways to clear away the fog on his path to the upcoming transformation from "Foundation Building" to "Golden Core".

The three clues, like three threads of destiny of different colors branching off from the same source, officially begin at this moment, rushing towards their respective futures, full of unknowns and variables.

They will one day in the future, converge again at a point beyond fate.

......

Terra, three thousand meters underground from the Imperial Palace.

This is the "Silent Cellar".

A name that does not exist in any official records, an absolute forbidden zone that even most of the Imperial Guards were not allowed to set foot in.

There is no simulated azure sky and birdsong and fragrant flowers like in "Wenxinzhai," nor the gilded decorations full of power and glory of the imperial upper class.

The moment Hector Kane stepped off the teleportation platform with the Imperial Guard wearing a pure gold death mask, a chilling atmosphere, as if all emotion had been drained from his face, rushed towards him.

The ground beneath his feet was paved with an unknown alloy that had a matte black finish, forming a seamless whole without any gaps.

The surface of the alloy was engraved with countless invisible, circuit board-like complex energy absorption runes. They were like a greedy black hole, swallowing up all the free photons, heat, and even subspace background noise in the surrounding space.

The walls and dome were also constructed of this material. There were no windows, no decorations, only a few strips of crystal embedded deep within the walls, emitting a faint blue light, providing minimal illumination.

The light was cold and pure, without a trace of warmth, enveloping the entire cellar in a light and shadow that was like the deep sea, filled with eternal rules and absolute stillness.