Warhammer 40k : Starting as a Primarch

Psychic energy differs fundamentally from spiritual cultivation.

Spiritual cultivation requires meditation and the sharpening of the mind and will. In contrast, psychic energy directly utilizes the power of the Warp. Through the Heart Net link, one can access these abilities instantly, provided they pay enough points. However, the price for such convenience is naturally steep.

As Dukel released a series of blessing abilities, the members of the Heart Network erupted into celebration.

"According to the Heart Net, these blessings come from the Emperor and the Primarch?"

"Praise the Emperor, praise the Primarch."

"So, I only need a few points to gain such blessings? Praise the Heart Network!"

"Unfortunately, I only have 100 points left. I'll need to save up for the spiritual cultivation techniques."

After uploading the various blessings, Dukel turned his attention to developing the next stage of spiritual cultivation.

When Dukel first gained insight into the true nature of the Primarch, he had felt a lingering fear. His mind had been assailed by a torrent of extreme emotions—fanatical belief fused with other intense feelings. The ability to absorb and transform such emotions efficiently was both a strength and a peril.

The danger was not only in the absorption and conversion of these emotions but in the sheer efficiency with which it occurred.

In the fragmented memories of the Primarch, Dukel recalled the Second Primarch's fervent behavior: a spirit perpetually ignited with an insatiable passion for battle and a hunger for mortal worship. Initially, Dukel had dismissed this as an inheritance of the Emperor's martial spirit. Upon reflection, it became clear that these traits were manifestations of the Primarch's inherent essence.

The analogy came to him: if the Primarch's soul was a clear lake, these extreme emotions were like a deluge of polluted rainwater. While rain could expand the lake, it would inevitably taint its purity. Over time, the accumulation of these impurities would poison the lake, and the Primarch's mind would succumb to the overwhelming weight of these emotions.

"Perhaps this is the genetic flaw of the Second Primarch?" Dukel mused.

The gaps in his predecessor's memories made it difficult to draw definitive conclusions, but the implications were unsettling. If the Second Legion shared such a flaw, it was no wonder Guilliman had been reluctant to utilize their gene-seed.

"Thankfully, before my journey through time, I had the foresight to develop the Heart Net and spiritual cultivation techniques," Dukel thought, a shiver running through him. "Otherwise, during my speech, the tide of extreme emotions from the masses could have driven me to lose control."

If that had happened, the consequences would have been catastrophic. The Primarch's descent into chaos would have plunged the empire into bloodshed, turning a crusade of purification into an unending nightmare.

The combination of spiritual cultivation and the Heart Net served as safeguards against such a fate.

Spiritual cultivation acted like a water purifier for the lake, cleansing impurities from one's beliefs. The Heart Net, on the other hand, expanded the lake into a vast ocean, connecting it to an endless flow of pure streams. Together, these systems not only safeguarded the soul but allowed it to thrive.

Over the following months, Dukel worked tirelessly to refine the spiritual techniques for the fetal breathing stage of cultivation.

The fetal breathing stage required a practitioner to breathe with their spirit and soul. Every cell in the body would function autonomously, achieving a state of perpetual optimization. To reach this level, one had to condense their spirit into an infant-like form, which would resonate with the cosmos and harmonize the breath of the soul with the heavens.

"Visualizing wildfires won't suffice anymore," Dukel noted.

Instead, he began visualizing his own Warp essence. Having realized its true nature, Dukel's spirit had already merged with it. Now, whenever he entered the Warp, he could instantly manifest as a towering, otherworldly being with wheels within wheels.

"If I use my essence as the foundation, perhaps the rotation of the flame wheel can serve as the basis for spiritual breathing," Dukel theorized.

He immersed himself in calculations, leveraging the combined processing power of tens of thousands of Heart Net-linked minds. Days turned to months as Dukel honed his technique.

Finally, the day arrived.

The Primarch, who had been absorbed in his cultivation, slowly opened his eyes. No divine radiance shone from his gaze, no visions unfolded. Instead, his eyes reflected only calm, their brilliance restrained. For a moment, it was as though Dukel had shed his demigod stature and become an ordinary mortal.

[Fetal Breathing Spiritual Cultivation Technique: Angel of the Throne]

Sitting in quiet contemplation, Dukel tested his new state. Gradually, his joy surfaced.

He raised a hand, and within his palm, a translucent flame flickered to life. Its orange-yellow hue shimmered faintly, as though it burned simultaneously in the physical universe and the spiritual realm.

This small flame represented the culmination of his spiritual cultivation, merging psychic fire magic and spiritual energy in perfect harmony. Though it appeared delicate, it had the power to harm even Chaos Daemons.

"With this Soulfire," Dukel mused, "even the denizens of the Warp will face surprises they didn't anticipate."

Unfortunately, this ability required practitioners to have reached the fetal breathing stage, making it inaccessible to most Heart Net members. Otherwise, Dukel would have freely shared it as a symbol of the Second Legion.

His breakthroughs weren't limited to spiritual cultivation. Dukel had also made strides in understanding the human body.

Until now, developing universal physical training techniques had been an elusive goal. The Empire's surgical and augmentation technologies could enhance human strength but fell short of providing an enduring advantage on the battlefield.

Dukel's own body, though outwardly human, was fundamentally different, making it a poor reference for designing methods applicable to others. However, upon reaching the fetal breathing stage, he gained the ability to observe his body at a cellular level.

"Life," Dukel realized, "is inseparable from the activity of electric currents. Emotions, thought, even the essence of being—none exist without bioelectricity."

He recalled the ancient theory of life's origins: how lightning striking the primordial sea gave rise to organic molecules, birthing life itself.

"Life, electricity, and magnetic fields..." Dukel's eyes lit up with inspiration.

"Biomagnetic fields!" he exclaimed.