Chapter 5: Increasing the Difficulty, Are You Sure?

Ji Xiang was still quite satisfied with his gains today, even feeling a little smug.

The legends of the Jianghu do not deceive; the system is indeed an all-powerful golden finger.

Although Ji Xiang's family background is "decent," what young man doesn't yearn to dress in fine clothes, ride a swift horse, and roam the world with a sword?

Seeing that he would grow powerful from the inside out in the days to come made Ji Xiang incredibly happy.

Lying on his bed, Ji Xiang recalled the Circumcision he had mastered today and felt he had become a true Doctor!

With a hint of smugness, he slowly closed his eyes.

In the System Panel, five slots of different colors represented five different basic attributes. Following the opening of the System Space today, these slots were now marked with numbers.

One was red, representing Basic Endurance.

Ji Xiang didn't know what values like 8 or 9 meant, so he just watched the show.

The key was that there was a System NPC in the System Space, and Ji Xiang prepared to ask him about the specific situation after entering the System Space.

Below the red "Blood Gauge" was a blue Energy Value slot, and below that were Agility, Comprehension, and Luck.

Energy 10, Agility 8, Comprehension 15, Luck 16; compared to his Basic Endurance, Ji Xiang felt this digitized system was quite scientific.

Naturally clever, Ji Xiang objectively judged that his Comprehension would not be low.

That his Basic Endurance was 8 while being able to run a full marathon effortlessly, and that his Luck value was "as high as" 16, also felt logical to Ji Xiang.

If being born is a science, Ji Xiang's exam score would be over 90.

The basic values only occupied a small corner of the System Panel; below them was the System Task panel, as well as that Long-term Main Quest.

Regarding this ridiculous task, Ji Xiang felt he could finish it in a week.

The system was on Easy mode, and the difficulty hadn't been unlocked; otherwise, it wouldn't have given such a simple Long-term Main Quest.

Besides this, there was an extremely complex operating interface on the panel.

Two options, Clinical and Auxiliary, appeared on the panel.

Ji Xiang tried to "click" Clinical with his consciousness, and a row of options appeared—Internal Medicine, Surgery, Gynecology, and Pediatrics.

Clicking Surgery, another row of options appeared.

Medicine is just like this; the books every medical student has read are as tall as they are. As for whether they can remember them or use them clearly, that depends on each medical student themselves.

Ji Xiang checked carefully, then retreated to the previous interface, seeing that every option under Internal Medicine, Surgery, Gynecology, and Pediatrics had a number; except for Surgery, which was 282, the numbers under the other three options were all around 100.

There were also numbers under the many sub-disciplines of Surgery, and as Ji Xiang watched, he gradually had an epiphany.

Whichever department he liked or invested more energy into during internships or clinical rotations, the number below it would be larger.

This should be Experience Points? Ji Xiang estimated.

Among all types of surgery, the highest Experience Points were still in the Urology Department, with a massive 601 points.

Clicking on the Urology Department, a row of surgical procedures came into view.

The first procedure that caught his eye was—Circumcision; this procedure was divided into three categories, of which the third had turned gray and was barely visible.

The Experience Points after the first category of Circumcision were 6010, and the Experience Points for the second category, Stapler Circumcision, were 0.

Seeing this, Ji Xiang roughly understood the meaning of Experience Points.

Glancing at the System Panel, Ji Xiang entered the System Space with bated breath after gaining a preliminary understanding.

With a flash of white light, he appeared once again in the corridor of the operating room.

The System NPC, wearing isolation clothing, stood not far away, squinting his eyes, his eye corners filled with a kind smile.

"You're here."

"I'm here."

Ji Xiang greeted the System NPC as casually as chatting with the owner of the breakfast shop at his doorstep.

"How does the Newbie Gift Pack feel?" the System NPC asked very calmly.

"Did the gift pack only teach me one surgery? That's too stingy," Ji Xiang said, looking at the System NPC with a smile, raising his hand to scratch his head. "Teacher, it wouldn't end just like this, would it?"

A floating screen appeared before Ji Xiang's eyes.

The small, dense characters on the floating screen made one feel dizzy.

"This is an informed consent form formulated according to the requirements of the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association."

The System NPC said faintly.

World Medical Association... Helsinki Declaration...

"Are systems this standard and formal now?" Ji Xiang asked in surprise.

In Ji Xiang's imagination, a golden finger was just a cheat; what other purpose could it have?

His Luck value was not low, and compared to his Basic Endurance, it could be said to be ridiculously high; it was normal to have a cheat fall from the sky, and Ji Xiang had always been very confident about this.

But this system was a bit strange; the System NPC actually wanted him to sign some sort of nonsense agreement.

The excitement of learning his first surgery in life was still there, and Ji Xiang's body was filled with dopamine and Epinephrine.

He didn't look closely at the words on the light screen, but stared at the System NPC and asked politely, "Teacher, I feel I have already learned the Circumcision; what surgery will you teach me next?"

"Learned it? Are you sure?"

The System NPC's eyes narrowed into slits, his expression indifferent, and he repeated, "Learned it? Really?" without mockery, yet it was better than mockery.

"Really!" Ji Xiang answered very seriously. "Next is just to practice the operation; it's just the simplest surgery, there's no difficulty to it."

"Is it really simple?" the System NPC muttered.

The System NPC's words were plain, and the trace of mockery that had vaguely made Ji Xiang feel something before had disappeared without a trace, replaced by a seriousness that made his heart palpitate.

He seemed to be asking himself, his expression serious.

Ji Xiang frowned as he looked at the System NPC; this person didn't feel like a virtual being to Ji Xiang, but a living existence, a true teacher.

That was why Ji Xiang addressed him as Teacher.

But it was just cutting a foreskin, what could be difficult about it? Ji Xiang couldn't understand why the System NPC was so serious.

According to the normal process, shouldn't I be continuing to learn more difficult surgeries next, and then stunning everyone with my skills?

A teenager's thoughts are just that simple.

"Teacher, can you increase the difficulty a little?" Ji Xiang pulled the page on the screen in front of him to the very bottom and casually signed his name.

A system that can appear in one's mind at any time—is there any need to guard against it like a telecom scam?

It's just like guarding against the world's richest person coveting the pocket change in one's own pocket; it's completely unnecessary.

At least Ji Xiang feels there is no need.

"Aren't you going to take a closer look?"

"No need." Ji Xiang smiled, "I saw my teacher use the Helsinki Declaration during my internship; it was a demonstration surgery performed by a big shot from Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Several patients and their Family Members almost fought over the opportunity. After all, they are a world-class Expert, and compared to one's life, being used as a demonstration doesn't seem unacceptable."

The System NPC smiled and asked in return, "You want to increase the difficulty?"

"Yes!" Ji Xiang clenched his right fist, his tone firm.

He inherited his father's stubbornness, as well as that attitude of brave advancement and tireless dedication.

"Fine." The System NPC stood with hands behind their back and back hunched, turning to enter the operating room. "Trying it out is fine too; just say so if you can't hold on. But you don't need to worry; with me watching, there won't be any problems."

Ji Xiang glanced at the System Panel in the top right corner of his field of vision: Basic Endurance 8+1!

Full bar!

Ji Xiang's body has always been good; running a full marathon is like child's play to him. Even with this physical fitness, his Basic Endurance in the system's rating is only 8. It's just a surgery; it's not like he can't hold on.

Full of confidence, Ji Xiang followed the System NPC into the operating room.

The operating room was exactly the same as yesterday; the Simulated Human was already lying on the operating table, ready for surgical training at any time.

It's truly convenient, Ji Xiang felt quite moved in his heart.

The Anatomical Teacher can be used endlessly, and it's more realistic than the Anatomical Teacher at school; it even bleeds. With this cheat enabled, he should be able to become a qualified Surgeon very soon.

It's just that this system underestimates people too much; the Long-term Main Quest is actually Phimosis Surgery. Isn't this a procedure that can be finished in minutes?

The naturally competitive Ji Xiang felt that the system's judgment must have some problem, otherwise it wouldn't look down on him so much.

Even when facing the system, the stubbornness and pride in the depths of Ji Xiang's heart still exist.

"How does the surgery feel after the training?" the System NPC asked.

"Very good." Ji Xiang looked at the System NPC standing with hands behind their back and back hunched, answering very politely and courteously.

"Very?" The System NPC repeated Ji Xiang's words heavily, turned their head, and gave Ji Xiang a deep look. "Today I will lend you a hand, and you will perform it."

"Okay."

Ji Xiang clenched both fists, his body already entering a stress state, his condition boosted to 120%.

He knew the System NPC had underestimated him, so Ji Xiang wanted to show what he had learned.

Even if he is only a Pre-service Trainee.

Having experienced the surgical training, returned to reality to operate in person, and watched Wang Daxiao perform a few surgeries with other students, Ji Xiang believed his level had improved again.

Now he had to show everything to this System NPC!

"You noticed the Experience Points, right?" the System NPC asked.

"Teacher, I noticed."

"You can click to upgrade."

"Oh?!"

It can even be upgraded!!

In the system, a screen appeared in front of Ji Xiang following his thoughts, which was much more convenient and faster than "clicking" with his mind in reality.

Ji Xiang tentatively clicked on the first option for the circumcision procedure, and an upgrade interface appeared.

The first upgrade requires 1000 Experience Points.

He clicked, and a warm current lingered around his body; Ji Xiang was stunned to see that he had reached Level 1 in this procedure.

The next upgrade requires 2000 Experience Points; Ji Xiang clicked to upgrade immediately.

6010 Experience Points were just enough to upgrade to Level 3.

"Teacher, have I changed after the upgrade?" Ji Xiang asked.

"Yes," the System NPC said indifferently, "Higher, faster, stronger."

"What is the maximum level for each procedure?"

"Level 9," the System NPC explained. "The accumulation of Experience Points for a single item increases by one point for every minute you train."

So that's how it is, Ji Xiang realized.

Not counting the surgery he performed while assisting Wang Daxiao, he had trained in the System Space for nearly 100 hours and accumulated a massive amount of Experience Points, upgrading directly to Level 3.

Ji Xiang glanced at the required Experience Points—6000 points—and groaned inwardly. At this rate, just for cutting a foreskin, he would have to spend 192,000 Experience Points.

That means upgrading from Level 8 to Level 9 would take 3200 hours!

The system revealed its fangs at this moment.

However, Ji Xiang didn't pay too much attention to it; he knew that it is not easy to upgrade any surgery to the top level, even for a circumcision.

Scrubbing in, laying out the sterile drapes, and finishing all preparations, Ji Xiang smiled, "Teacher, shall I begin?"

The System NPC didn't speak, only nodded slightly, helping Ji Xiang support the surgical site.

Ji Xiang imitated the System NPC's method to begin Anesthesia, but the effect of the Anesthesia this time was not good, and he had to add an injection in the middle at the head.

Once the Anesthesia was finished, Ji Xiang raised his hand, and the Scalpel was immediately slapped into his hand.

The entire surgical process was already deeply imprinted in Ji Xiang's mind; he quickly recalled it once and then began.

Dissection, cutting, Suturing—everything was very smooth.

Until the Pressure Bandage was finished, a feeling of comfort and pleasure rose in Ji Xiang's heart; he could vaguely sense that feeling Wang Daxiao had after finishing a surgery and smoking a cigarette.

"Teacher, it's done."

"Not bad, barely a 60," the System NPC said.

"..."

Hearing the System NPC's evaluation, Ji Xiang felt a lump in his chest, as if he had choked on a hard-boiled egg.

Although his surgical proficiency was a bit worse than Wang Daxiao's, giving him only a passing grade was a bit too harsh!

In Ji Xiang's own self-evaluation system, this surgery was worth at least an 80.

Could this be the level of LV3?

"Follow me." The System NPC took off the sterile surgical gown, threw it into the red bin, and walked out with hands behind their back and back hunched.

"Teacher, where are we going?" Ji Xiang followed behind the System NPC and asked in a low voice.

The System NPC did not say much, just kept walking on their own.

Ji Xiang's Spirit perked up; he believed that when the System NPC said he wouldn't be able to hold on, it meant performing countless surgeries.

Perhaps the next Operating Room would be the legendary professional operating room of the thyroid maniac, with three operating tables, performing surgeries like an assembly line, with absolutely no time to rest.

Ji Xiang glanced at the System Panel in the top right corner of his field of vision and saw that the Stamina bar had only fluctuated a tiny bit; he knew very well that a Circumcision was no burden to him at all.

To make him unable to hold on, he would need to perform at least over a hundred surgeries in a row.

Ji Xiang followed the System NPC into the next Operating Room, full of confidence.

But the moment his foot stepped inside, a sense of weightlessness suddenly welled up, and then a flash appeared before his eyes, the lights dazzling.

Ji Xiang instinctively closed his eyes, and after a few seconds, a familiar voice reached his ears—"How does the surgery feel after the training?"

Thump, thump, thump~

Ji Xiang vaguely sensed something; this sentence was so familiar.

"Very good."

His own voice appeared in his ears.

"Very?"

As if a basin of ice water had been poured over his head, Ji Xiang suddenly opened his eyes.

The light of the shadowless lamp entered his vision.

It was just that the perspective was a bit strange.

The bright light shone directly onto his body, and it took Ji Xiang 1.3 seconds to realize that he was actually lying on the operating table!

Himself!

Actually!!

Lying on the operating table!!!

Ji Xiang had become the Patient, and the person standing in the surgeon's position was himself!

(End of chapter)