Chapter 40: Opening, the Gaze of a Superior Doctor!

"The speed at which your surgery is leveling up is a bit fast. Have you had any insights since returning?" the System NPC asked.

Ji Xiang paused for a moment, feeling slightly bewildered.

"Originally, I combined my life's experience to divide surgery into three stages," the System NPC said, sniffing the scent of the White Lingzhi while explaining to Ji Xiang.

"The first stage, 'seeing mountains as mountains,' uses the lines from Wang Guowei's *Talks on Poetry in the Human World*: 'Last night the west wind withered the green trees; alone I climbed the high tower, to gaze at the end of the world's road.'"

"Correspondingly, this is your Level 1 to Level 4 range."

Ji Xiang listened carefully.

His own leveling was too fast, and he didn't have a deep understanding of some of the more profound, mysterious aspects. What the System NPC was describing was the understanding of surgery gained over a long life, a theoretical summary derived from induction.

It sounded useless, but every word held great utility.

"The second stage, 'seeing mountains as not mountains,' is also called: 'The clothes are getting loose, yet I do not regret it; for her, I grow haggard and worn.'"

"I was exhausted yesterday," Ji Xiang laughed.

"That was barely anything," the System NPC waved a hand and sniffed the smoke forcefully. "This corresponds to the Level 4 to Level 7 range."

"Finally, when you reach Level 9 and attain the peak, you should experience the realm of 'seeing mountains as mountains' again. As described in *Talks on Poetry in the Human World*, it is Xin Qiji's line: 'I searched for her thousands of times in the crowd, and suddenly, looking back, that person was there, in the dim, flickering light.'"

Although Ji Xiang didn't understand, he recorded every sentence and every word the System NPC said, intending to savor them carefully when performing surgeries in the future.

"Back in my day, I performed Surgical Suturing by hand, and later I used a stapler for circumcision. Although that isn't my specialty, the various experiences in between gave me my own insights."

"This has to do with everyone's Comprehension, state of mind, and environment. You will have your own insights; this is also your own Dao."

The System NPC didn't talk about various details today, but instead spoke from a high vantage point about the basis of the grading and their own personal insights.

"It's a pity that fewer and fewer people can settle their hearts and minds to grind away bit by bit. Later on, Zhou Congwen and the others modified the original settings, and I feel this will lead to an unstable foundation."

"How can one be stable?" Ji Xiang asked.

"Get more exposure to Clinical practice. Joys and sorrows, partings and reunions—they may seem unrelated to medicine, but in fact, they are all part of it," the System NPC said. "Do you have surgery today?"

"Yes, I'm going to a private hospital with Mo Jiaoshou to perform surgery."

"Go then," the System NPC waved a hand, their deformed hand steadily clutching the White Lingzhi, as if it were the System NPC's everything.

"Teacher, then I'll head back first."

Ji Xiang left the system and carefully pondered the stages the System NPC mentioned, but he didn't gain much.

He also knew that this kind of generalized, summary-style knowledge required time to comprehend, and he wasn't in a hurry.

Yesterday, he had agreed with Mo Chenggui to go to the Andrology hospital early this morning to perform surgeries.

After taking stock of his gains, Ji Xiang ate breakfast with the old man in high spirits and then rode his bicycle to the Andrology hospital.

Seeing his son's radiant appearance, Ji Xiang's father recalled his worries from last night and found it amusing.

But it was strange that his son's body sometimes seemed excessively overdrawn, and at other times, he was full of vigor.

Ji Xiang arrived at the Andrology hospital, but he didn't go in, choosing instead to stand outside and wait for Mo Chenggui.

Today, an Expert from the Imperial Capital was coming to perform Extension Surgery, so the time they had agreed upon was moved up a bit.

"Doctor Xiao Ji, you're early," Mo Chenggui said as he drove up to the hospital and saw that Ji Xiang had already arrived.

This young man was very punctual; Mo Chenggui's favorable impression of Ji Xiang was already maxed out, and at this moment, he felt even more admiration.

"Good morning, Professor Mo," Ji Xiang said with a smile.

With his Surgical Suturing raised to Level 9, having received a pile of rewards, and having listened to the System NPC talk about the Dao, Ji Xiang was in an exceptionally good mood.

"There aren't many surgeries today, just 10," Mo Chenggui said. "I've scheduled the others for tomorrow."

"Oh," Ji Xiang knew that Mo Chenggui wanted to observe the Extension Surgery performed by the big shot from the Imperial Capital.

Actually, Ji Xiang wanted to watch too.

Observing high-level surgeries—stones from other hills can serve to polish the jade of this one—was also a way to increase his skills.

They arrived at the operating room, changed their clothes, and without another word, the two began the surgery.

Mo Chenggui had originally thought he already understood Ji Xiang, and understood exactly what this gifted young man was capable of.

When he first entered Clinical practice, his surgical completion rate was the same as his own, and he even crushed him in hand speed; it had taken Professor Mo a long time to accept that fact.

But!

As soon as he reached out today, Mo Chenggui felt that something was wrong.

The two had collaborated on dozens of surgeries and had already developed a bit of tacit understanding. But as soon as they started today, Mo Chenggui felt the surgical process was bumpy and disjointed.

Although the speed was extremely fast, something felt off.

The problem was with himself; he couldn't keep up with Ji Xiang's rhythm!

The little guy who was so proficient and fast yesterday seemed to have deliberately hidden something, or perhaps he had improved again after a night's sleep...

After realizing this, Mo Chenggui felt bewildered.

Ji Xiang's hand speed was fast to the Extreme Point, but for some reason, it was even faster today.

The circumcision using a stapler, which originally took 4 minutes per case, was completed in just 3 minutes and 43 seconds, and this was even with a lack of tacit coordination.

"Doctor Xiao Ji... you..." Mo Chenggui was speechless.

Ji Xiang felt a bit embarrassed. "Professor Mo, I'm sorry. I'll be slower in the next surgery."

"..." Mo Chenggui was moved to tears.

This was too honest; for the first time, Mo Chenggui hated the fine quality of honesty.

But while the speed was fast, Ji Xiang's work was quite steady; he didn't neglect a single step that required attention, to the point that Professor Mo felt like he was watching a big shot from the Imperial Capital or Shanghai perform surgery.

Comparing it to his own surgical process, he vaguely gained some insights.

After 6 surgeries passed, Mo Chenggui gradually found the best coordination speed with Ji Xiang, and their cooperation became increasingly harmonious.

Mo Chenggui was also helpless.

He knew the young man had fast hands, but he hadn't expected Ji Xiang's hand speed to reach such a level—a level that made him feel intimidated.

This child's growth speed was inhumanly fast.

Perhaps, this is talent?

"Gu Lao, this is our Operating Room. To avoid intraoperative infection for the patient, it was built according to the strictest regulations for a Laminar Flow Operating Room. It is no exaggeration to say that it is not much different from the operating rooms at your hospital," Dean Li's voice came as he introduced the operating room.

Ji Xiang focused on the surgery; he wanted to see what the difference was between a top-tier domestic surgeon and a System NPC.

"What standard?" a hoarse voice asked playfully.

"The United States Federal Standard 1000 is defined as ≤1000 dust particles ≥0.5μm per cubic foot of air, or ≤35 particles per liter of air," Dean Li recited the standard by heart.

"Hmm." The hoarse voice was clearly very satisfied.

The door to the operating room opened, and Dean Li introduced, "This operating room is performing a circumcision, led by Professor Mo Chenggui of the Second Affiliated Hospital..."

The words "lead surgeon" didn't come out; Dean Li saw Mo Chenggui standing in the assistant's position, while the surgeon was that young man who spoke in a stifling, wild way, like a small beast.

To say Professor Mo was the lead surgeon would be a lie to his face, and Gu Lao would certainly be displeased.

Gu Lao let out an "Oh," and stepped inside.

He stood behind Ji Xiang, and a few seconds later, Professor Zhou Tianbo immediately grabbed a footstool and placed it under Gu Lao's feet.

By the time Professor Zhou looked at the surgery, Ji Xiang was already pulling the trigger to fire the staples.

Gu Lao didn't say a word. Seeing the surgery finished, Ji Xiang checked the frenulum and other areas for bleeding as if he had Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, then repaired a few more spots. Gu Lao remained noncommittal and turned to leave.

"Gu Lao, Professor Mo is the same, insisting on bringing a student along and even letting the student perform the surgery." Dean Li followed Gu Lao out of the operating room and immediately explained, not wanting his hospital to leave any stain on Gu Lao's impression.

"That child performed the surgery quite well," Professor Zhou said objectively.

"Only quite well?" Gu Lao lowered his head in thought. Hearing Professor Zhou say this, he turned back and glanced at him.

"Ah? It is very good." Professor Zhou was taken aback by the question.

Gu Lao shook his head slightly, lost in thought.

The next patient was brought in, and Mo Chenggui said, "Doctor Xiao Ji, the surgery over there is about to begin."

Ji Xiang understood.

Then let's go full speed.

But surgery is surgery; one cannot just seek speed, it must also be done well, leaving no future complications.

Ji Xiang did not want to experience the scenes from the Empathy himself, nor did he want the patient to experience them.

Go all out!

As the next patient was brought in, Ji Xiang prepared to use his new skill.

But when he mentally clicked on the skill, a light screen flashed—Insufficient energy, please add Surgical Points to activate the skill.

Emmm, it requires one Surgical Point to activate.

Although he had some Surgical Points now, this stuff was hard currency and could be used to purchase potions.

Thinking of the practicality of the Endurance Potion, Ji Xiang hesitated.

Should he really use this skill?

A "broken" skill that requires consuming his own Surgical Points—this is truly intolerable!

"Doctor Xiao Ji?" Seeing Ji Xiang dazed, Professor Mo patted him and handed over the syringe filled with Anesthesia.

Ji Xiang sighed; he had no choice but to consume one Surgical Point to activate 【Superior Doctor's Gaze】.

If it's not useful, he'll use it less in the future. After all, things like +100% cooperation don't seem necessary, Ji Xiang thought to himself.

As he clicked to use the skill, Ji Xiang felt nothing, but Mo Chenggui, standing beside him, went completely rigid. A vast, peerless force suddenly appeared beside him, and in an instant, his psyche was almost crushed.

What is happening? Mo Chenggui struggled to steady his mind, thinking in horror.

Unknowingly, his waist had already bent slightly.

It's just a circumcision, why is he so nervous?

The last time he was this nervous was during his graduate studies, when he first went on stage to perform surgery with his teacher, who had since passed away.

Mo Chenggui came from a prestigious background; no one in the Urology Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital could put this much pressure on him. Or rather, ever since his teacher passed away, no one had given him such pressure, and no one had truly become his superior doctor in a meaningful sense.

He laughed at himself. Damn it, is it because he wanted to see Gu Lao perform surgery too much?

It's just an Extension Surgery,

Just that.

He tried his best to relax, and the next second, the Hemostatic Forceps tapped against his Radial styloid process with a "Clack~".

"Concentrate."

A cold voice came.

(End of chapter)