The Three Paths of Transcendence

Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!

— This was the subconscious psychological reaction of everyone who learned the contents of Arthur's wooden plaque.

"He at least has some self-awareness, knowing his medical skill is limited."

"I think this barbarian is quite clever. Knowing no one will see him, he just put up a limit sign to cover up his incompetence and save face!"

"Exactly! And he's limiting it to ten people. If even one person shows up, it'll be a blessing from My Lord."

"What kind of wooden plaque is this? It's clearly a fig leaf!"

The entrance to the Church Hospital became as lively as a marketplace. People were talking to each other, whispering, their words filled with disdain and contempt.

At first glance, it sounded like murmurs in the darkness, the dark side of the human heart.

As time went by and patients left, the news that "Arthur became a Church Physician and even posted a sign limiting consultations to ten people a day" spread throughout Francis at an astonishing speed!

The black-eyed alien race was already unique in Francis, drawing considerable attention.

And now he had suddenly become a Church Physician. How could people not be surprised? How could they not question it?

The limit sign he posted became the laughingstock of the entire city, adding a bit of amusement and laughter to the streets and alleys.

At five o'clock in the afternoon, the Church Hospital stopped issuing consultation tokens.

At six o'clock in the afternoon, the Church Physicians ended their day's work and prepared to go home. Only a few young novice nuns remained in the inpatient area, caring for the few patients who had undergone surgery.

"Mr. Arthur, are you alright?"

Angela stood at the door of Ning Xiuyuan's consultation room, her face filled with worry. Her gaze involuntarily flickered towards the "limit sign."

She had heard about it during lunch.

However, due to being busy with work and being called to help by a surgical physician, she hadn't had a chance to inquire.

Now that work was finally over, her worries surged forth.

Come to think of it, it was she who had suggested Arthur come to work at the Church Hospital!

"I'm fine, I'm used to it. To be honest, I rarely manage to read books at home, but I find it much more engaging when I'm out. I've already finished two medical books today."

Ning Xiuyuan stood up and stretched.

Hearing this, Angela's heart trembled. The words "I'm used to it" inexplicably made her feel a pang of sympathy.

"That..."

Her tone hesitated slightly as she comforted him:

"You really don't need to put up a sign like that. It's normal for people not to trust you. When I first started practicing auscultation, my situation was even worse than yours! I was only seventeen then, and everyone said how could a child understand medical skill? But as time passed, people gradually came to believe in me! Your medical skill is so formidable, and you have extraordinary characteristics to assist you. Time will prove everything."

"Haha, no need to comfort me. I put up this sign not out of spite. I've thought it through carefully. My individual strength is limited, and I want to invest my limited energy into infinite medical research. If I can write a few medical books to advance medical development, I believe it can save more patients."

Ning Xiuyuan said with a bright and cheerful smile.

However, he chuckled coldly in his heart.

The crucial element for the Disease Deceiver's extraordinary ritual lies in "healer's reputation"!

How to increase healer's reputation?

By relying on constantly treating patients and saving lives?

Don't be ridiculous!

A regular outpatient doctor sees no fewer patients than a specialist who only works three hours a week.

But can the former's reputation be compared to the latter's?

Clearly not!

Therefore, to complete the Disease Deceiver's extraordinary ritual, one absolutely cannot be foolishly diligent and tirelessly save lives.

This requires skill!

His identity as an alien race is his biggest gimmick for hype.

Putting aside his medical skill for now, at least the fact that he became a doctor has spread throughout the city, known to everyone.

Coupled with the unconventional move of the limit sign, its notoriety has reached a new peak!

After all, anti-fans are also fans.

From now on, he just needs to wait patiently.

The saying "desperate patients will seek any cure" is not just empty talk. He only needs an opportunity to become famous overnight.

"Investing limited energy into infinite medical research? So that's your real intention!"

Angela murmured these words, deeply moved in her heart. She was impressed by Ning Xiuyuan's foresight, and a hint of shame flashed in her eyes.

"I thought you were... But why didn't you explain yourself? Many people outside are saying you did it to... cover up." Angela couldn't help but ask.

"If the lambs are intelligent and far-sighted, do we still need sheepdogs?" Ning Xiuyuan smiled faintly, thinking to himself that Angela was still too naive.

"You're right, I was too concerned with the lambs' thoughts and completely forgot my duty as a sheepdog," Angela realized, her gaze growing firmer.

Seeing this, Ning Xiuyuan smiled, but a strange feeling arose in his heart.

"Let's go eat dinner together!" Ning Xiuyuan changed the subject and invited her.

"Okay!" Angela happily nodded. She found that the longer she spent with Arthur, the more she felt his uniqueness.

This made her very curious and intrigued.

Immediately, the two left the Church Hospital together and headed to the Church cafeteria for dinner.

It's worth mentioning that their walk side-by-side attracted a lot of attention.

The public pointed and whispered amongst themselves.

Upon entering the Church cafeteria, the other priests looked at Ning Xiuyuan with strange expressions.

They had clearly heard about the limited viewing pass.

However, their opinions were the exact opposite of the public's.

They knew that Ning Xiuyuan was a transcendent Ascetic Physician, and while they couldn't comment on his medical skill, he was certainly capable of healing people.

Yet, he had put up a limited viewing pass. What did that mean?

Was he hoarding Vitality?

Was this the noble quality a sheepdog of My Lord should possess?

Everyone looked surprised and doubtful, but no one was foolish enough to rush forward and question him. After all, the Judgement Assembly for Orlando's loss of control case had just concluded, and its influence was still palpable.

Amidst their peculiar gazes, Angela remained calm and composed.

Seeing this, Ning Xiuyuan also generously asked for extraordinary knowledge. Of course, in return, he would share some medical common sense.

The two sat facing each other at a dining table, each with a plate of dinner, eating and chatting.

"By the way, now that you've joined the Church Hospital, I don't think it will be long before you fully integrate the Ascetic Physician. Have you considered your next extraordinary characteristic?"

"You've stopped the spread of two loss of control incidents. I'm guessing that once you complete the integration of the Ascetic Physician, your next extraordinary characteristic will be issued immediately."

Angela was curious about Ning Xiuyuan's path of transcendence, and she also had a personal motive.

"Oh? It sounds like there's more to it than that?"

"Of course, didn't anyone tell you?"

Ning Xiuyuan shook his head.

"That's right, you're not from a monastery, so it's normal that you don't know these things," Angela found a reason for herself.

"If it's not confidential, could you tell me?" Ning Xiuyuan asked politely.

"You worry too much, this isn't confidential at all."

Angela had a small appetite. She stirred her mashed potatoes while talking eloquently.

"Generally speaking, there are three main theories for the current path of transcendence: the Doctrine of Sevenfold Perfection, the Doctrine of the Hexagram, and the Doctrine of Unity! What we need to do is choose one theory and practice it."

Ning Xiuyuan's eyes lit up. He knew the path of transcendence wasn't simple.

"The Doctrine of Sevenfold Perfection, as the name suggests. Humans have seven layers of bodies: the etheric body, the emotional body, the mental body, the astral body, the etheric template body, the celestial body, and the karmic body. Some sects also refer to these as the soul."

"In fact, extraordinary power, from a certain perspective, is an extension of the power of these seven bodies."

"For example, our ability as Ascetic Physicians to heal people is by accumulating the Vitality of the etheric body and stimulating the patient's etheric body to repair the lesion. However, if the etheric body itself has problems, then we Ascetic Physicians would be powerless."

"I've gone off-topic. In short, the Doctrine of Sevenfold Perfection believes that the path of transcendence is actually the perfection and strengthening of the seven bodies. Therefore, the chosen extraordinary characteristic needs to correspond to the attributes of the seven bodies to complete oneself."

Ning Xiuyuan's eyes flickered. Angela's words shed light on much of the extraordinary knowledge he had obtained from the striped goat pupil.

"The Doctrine of the Hexagram, also known as the Bucket Theory. In mysticism, the hexagram represents six directions: front, back, left, right, up, and down, symbolizing perfection. Therefore, this theory believes that the path of transcendence should be based on extraordinary characteristics, and one should strive to acquire powers of different attributes to achieve perfection like a hexagram."

"As for the Doctrine of Unity, also known as the Doctrine of Uniqueness. This theory believes that extraordinary characteristics are as vast as the sea of stars, and it's impossible to complete oneself or even acquire perfect abilities. Only by specializing in one ability and taking it to the extreme is true transcendence!"

Angela spoke slowly and clearly.

The knowledge she revealed might be common sense to the Church's regular priests, but for Ning Xiuyuan, it was crucial.

As a visitor from Earth, he knew very well that often, choice was more important than effort!

"Which theory do you think best aligns with your thoughts?" Angela asked curiously. This matter concerned the development direction of Arthur's path of transcendence.

On this matter, she was both hopeful and conflicted.

On one hand, she hoped Arthur could go further in his career as a healer, as this would be a blessing for the public.

On the other hand, if Arthur chose the path of a healer, he would face more risks of loss of control, which was something she did not want to see.

"Which theory did Bishop Byron choose?" Ning Xiuyuan asked, not answering directly.