Patient's family visits?

"You want to learn from Your Excellency the Bishop?" Angela asked with a smile.

"Of course, learning to seek advice from authority is also a form of wisdom," Ning Xiuyuan admitted readily.

"The answer might disappoint you!"

"Oh?"

"Your Excellency the Bishop practices the Doctrine of Unity. He is proficient in related fields such as souls, the Underworld, and Hell, possessing immense power! This is also the choice of many influential figures. However, I don't recommend you take this path."

"Why?" Ning Xiuyuan asked, full of curiosity.

"Because this path entails a higher risk of loss of control!"

Angela first gave her summary before continuing her explanation:

"The path of Unity has many advantages. Firstly, the similarity of extraordinary characteristics means that extraordinary rituals will also be very similar. This offers unparalleled advantages in fusing extraordinary characteristics, allowing for the fusion of more extraordinary characteristics in a shorter period, thus rapidly increasing power."

"At the same time, the similarity in power also allows them to complement and strengthen each other."

"But the drawbacks of this path are also very obvious. Similar extraordinary characteristics will cause the loss of control factors within them to stack and influence each other. Transcendants who choose this path rarely reach the Fourth Ring realm, and the further one progresses on the extraordinary path, the more perilous it becomes."

"Of course, no matter which path you choose, the later stages are not easy, and the Doctrine of Unity is even more difficult."

"Furthermore, the singularity of abilities makes one highly susceptible to being targeted. Only by reaching Your Excellency the Bishop's level can one possess the ability to deal with most crises."

Listening to Angela's explanation, Ning Xiuyuan nodded, his eyes flickering.

"So, are you going to practice the Doctrine of Unity?" Angela couldn't help but press, "Or another extraordinary path?"

"Hahaha, your words are too idealistic," Ning Xiuyuan laughed.

"Why do you say that?" Angela asked, surprised.

"Whether it's the Doctrine of Unity, the Doctrine of Sevenfold Perfection, or even the Doctrine of the Hexagram, all require specific extraordinary characteristics. Can you guarantee that you'll encounter your desired extraordinary characteristics every time?" Ning Xiuyuan chuckled.

"I... I haven't really thought about that?" Angela realized something in a daze.

Extraordinary characteristics weren't like common cabbage that could be bought wholesale, right?

Everyone could only choose what they had.

Or they could wait.

But would waiting guarantee they'd get their desired extraordinary characteristics?

Not necessarily.

Therefore, ideals and reality often clashed, and one ultimately had to compromise with reality.

"We always think too much and do too little. Instead of dwelling on the extraordinary path, it's better to act in the present," Ning Xiuyuan casually offered a piece of motivational advice, changing the subject.

"Yes, you have a point," Angela nodded thoughtfully, "I was overthinking it."

Indeed, had Orlando ever dwelled on the extraordinary path?

Yet, he hadn't even encountered his second extraordinary characteristic.

As expected of Arthur, his words were always so philosophical and insightful.

This dinner had benefited Ning Xiuyuan greatly, and he had a nascent idea about the extraordinary path.

It was clear that the Doctrine of Unity, which seemed the most difficult, might actually be the easiest path to walk.

Although the stacking of extraordinary characteristics increased the risk of loss of control, the extraordinary rituals were also relatively easier to complete, which invisibly offset a considerable portion of that risk.

What if he chose another path?

For example, possessing the Disease Deceiver and the Beast Listener. One required healing people and spreading the reputation of a healer, while the other demanded living in seclusion with beasts. How could these two rituals not feel tearing?

If two were like this, what about three, four, or five?

However, the singularity of the Doctrine of Unity's methods was also a significant drawback.

Looking at it this way, it seemed no path was easy.

Sigh, back to that saying: thinking too much, doing too little.

The most important thing right now was to fully fuse the extraordinary characteristics he had already consumed, and then consider his choice based on the actual situation.

If possible, he should collect as many extraordinary characteristics as he could to increase his options.

They say some die of thirst while others drown in water.

Since becoming a Church doctor, Ning Xiuyuan had come to understand this saying more profoundly.

His life had now returned to the state it was in before discovering extraordinary power.

He patrolled the church three times a day, and spent the rest of his time in the outpatient clinic, spacing out or reading.

Oh, and he also controlled rats and flying birds to roam around.

Unfortunately, no "side quests" had been triggered. Sometimes, he even felt so lost that he thought this was just a new world where industry had just begun to enlighten.

The priests, who possessed mysterious and unfathomable supernatural powers, were rarely seen and it was unclear what kept them so busy.

The power of circles, in this supernatural world, was once again evident.

The saying from the ancestors about "desperate people will try anything" didn't come true.

Perhaps it was due to the high mortality rate, but the people here were very "calm" about death.

Even when they knew they had an incurable disease, not a single person came to his clinic to try their luck.

Right!

Do you remember the first man who brought his father into Ning Xiuyuan's clinic, only to refuse Ning Xiuyuan's treatment in the end?

His name was Bunir.

His father died on June 17th.

Angela was the one who told Ning Xiuyuan about this.

Upon hearing the news, Ning Xiuyuan recalled that aged face and felt a deep sense of melancholy for a long time.

Actually, if that not-so-old man had been willing to try his treatment, he could have completely handled it.

'What a shame...'

Ning Xiuyuan sighed, unsure what he was regretting.

However, it wasn't entirely wrong to dismiss the ancestor's saying about "desperate people trying anything." On the sixth day of his practice, Ning Xiuyuan finally welcomed his first customer willing to be treated.

"Uncle Arthur, can you help treat Bai Bai for me?"

Little Sister Eve, who had just turned nine and would be in at most fourth grade on Earth, was already a "veteran nurse" at the Church Hospital.

She was mainly responsible for miscellaneous tasks like fetching tea and water.

At this moment, wearing her worn-out nun's habit, she held a dying puppy and looked pleadingly at Ning Xiuyuan during her lunch break.

Ning Xiuyuan glanced at the puppy in her arms, then at her pitiable expression, and a classic character suddenly came to mind – Chihiro.

"If you believe in me, I'm willing to take a look, Miss Eve," Ning Xiuyuan said.

"Can you cure it? Many people at the hospital say your medical skills aren't very good," Eve asked, her big eyes blinking, without showing any happiness.

Woni—

Ning Xiuyuan's forehead veins twitched, and he suppressed the curse word in his heart.

He comforted himself: Children speak their minds, children speak their minds.

"What do you think then?"

"I... I don't know."

"Child, remember this: hearing is not as good as seeing. You only know the truth of anything if you experience it yourself."

Ning Xiuyuan initially wanted to lecture her, but decided against it, wanting to avoid the impression of being a know-it-all.

"Put the puppy on the examination table!"

"Okay." Eve quickly placed the dying puppy on the table.

After a brief examination, Ning Xiuyuan identified the cause of illness—canine distemper.

He had two treatment methods for this.

One, use the Disease Deceiver to perform deception.

Two, utilize the power of the Plague Disciple to directly kill the virus.

Ning Xiuyuan chose deception.

"It has canine distemper, with a mortality rate of over 80%. Fortunately, you met me. Here, I'll write you a prescription. Go get some medicine. Also, dogs with canine distemper lose their appetite, which is a major problem. Even if you have to force-feed it, you must get it to eat something."

Ning Xiuyuan instructed, casually writing out a prescription for an inexpensive, common potion.

"Thank you, Uncle Arthur!"

Eve took the prescription and happily ran out of the clinic with the puppy.

At this moment, seven or eight little nuns, around eleven or twelve years old, were already lurking suspiciously outside the clinic.

They were clearly quite afraid of Ning Xiuyuan.

So they deliberately "bullied" the youngest, Eve, into going in.

When Eve ran out with the puppy, the little nuns immediately became excited. They chattered excitedly, holding up the puppy, and rushed straight to the pharmacy.

Ning Xiuyuan watched this scene, a smile involuntarily appearing on his lips.

They say everything is difficult at the beginning.

After this auspicious start with Eve, Ning Xiuyuan's luck seemed to turn.

In the evening, as he was patrolling the church, a middle-aged woman suddenly rushed over and grabbed him.

"Mr. Arthur, you must save my daughter!"

"What's wrong?"

Ning Xiuyuan remained outwardly calm, but inwardly rejoiced. The opportunity had arrived.

"My... my daughter... she's having a difficult birth. I heard men are strong, you really must help me?!" The middle-aged woman spoke incoherently, pulling Ning Xiuyuan along without waiting for a response.

A life was at stake!

Without a second thought, Ning Xiuyuan followed her.

They ran through streets and alleys, a spectacle for all to see, drawing countless curious glances.

Some people even hopped on their bicycles to chase after them.

Seeing this, Ning Xiuyuan felt a secret delight, his body brimming with energy.

After a while, they reached their destination, which seemed to be Francis's slum.

"Where is she?" Ning Xiuyuan asked.

The middle-aged woman was too exhausted to speak. Panting, she pulled Ning Xiuyuan to a fence haphazardly bound with broken planks. She pointed inside to a large sow lying in the mud, also panting heavily.

"This is your... daughter?" Ning Xiuyuan was dumbfounded.