Chapter 80: The Foolish Shan Hao

The latter half of Hope Base General Hospital was designated as a military-exclusive medical area. All medical professionals in the base who had passed the vetting process were assigned to work here. The logistics department managed the facility as a whole, ensuring that these unarmed doctors could once again serve their vital roles.

The medicines extracted from the underground base were sufficient to meet the needs of the entire civilian population for three years, so after the hospital reopened, any ordinary person in the base who was able would come here for treatment. This measure further united the hearts of the people within the base; after all, in this apocalypse, such a benefit was rare. Even some nearby small bases, upon hearing the news, flocked here, causing the population of Hope Base to steadily grow.

At this moment, inside the military medical area, in an intensive care ward, Wang Ji, Long Qianwen, and several doctors were gathered around a hospital bed. The leading doctor, a national academician named Xu Zhongshan, had finished examining Long Shanhao and reviewing his test results. With a heavy expression, he said,

"Commander... forgive my bluntness, but although Mr. Long’s physical fitness is extraordinary and his physiological functions are intact, there is no brainwave activity at all... To put it simply, he is in a vegetative state. With our current resources and technology, we have no way to awaken him."

Long Qianwen’s eyes reddened as she clutched Wang Ji’s sleeve tightly. Wang Ji patted her hand reassuringly, saying, "Don’t worry. I’m here."

He then turned to Xu Zhongshan and smiled. "Thank you for your hard work, Elder Xu. Let me take a look now."

Xu Zhongshan looked at Wang Ji in surprise and asked, "Commander... do you know how to treat patients as well?"

Wang Ji shook his head, placing his hand on Long Shanhao’s head. "Just a little. I’ll give it a try."

Regardless of the reactions from others in the ward, Wang Ji closed his eyes slightly, connecting his mind to the X System.

"System, scan the patient’s current condition!"

[The patient’s situation is unique. Scanning will consume 1000 energy points... Estimated time: ten minutes.]

For ten minutes, Wang Ji remained motionless, his hand on Long Shanhao’s head, making Long Qianwen beside him increasingly nervous. The other doctors waited in baffled silence, not daring to speak due to Wang Ji’s status as the head of the base.

At last, as everyone watched expectantly, Wang Ji removed his hand and opened his eyes.

"Wang Ji, how is it?" Long Qianwen asked anxiously.

Wang Ji smiled with renewed confidence. "I understand Shanhao’s condition now. Elder Xu was right: his body is fine, but his mind has been damaged. Give me a moment, I’ll get a special medicine to try."

Long Qianwen let out a sigh of relief. "Wang Ji, let me get it for you!"

Xu Zhongshan and the other doctors looked surprised. "Commander, what kind of medicine could possibly awaken someone in a vegetative state?"

Wang Ji smiled awkwardly. The X System had just informed him that Long Shanhao possessed remarkable innate talent. Back at the Southwest Base, an incomplete gene serum had prematurely triggered Shanhao’s potential. His strength had grown too rapidly for his body to bear, so his mind had instinctively shut down to suppress the surge—a self-protection mechanism.

Wang Ji would need to use his formidable mental power to guide and stimulate Shanhao’s mind, then inject a perfected intermediate-level gene serum to correct the evolution process and resolve the issue.

With this in mind, Wang Ji explained, "Elder Xu, the medicine I’m using is a gene serum developed for military use in the base. It’s only an aid—the key lies in my abilities, which can help him awaken. I can’t really explain the principle in detail."

Elder Xu sighed with regret. None of the researchers at the base could currently explain Wang Ji’s abilities. A separate department had been established in the hospital, led by Lin Yahan, the niece of Chen Yu, to research crystal cores and gene serums. Yet, their progress depended on sample data from perfected gene serums, and their understanding of human physiology was still in its infancy.

"That being the case," Xu Zhongshan said tactfully, "we’ll leave everything to you, Commander. We’ll observe from outside—call us if you need anything." With that, he led the other doctors out.

Wang Ji nodded, then took an intermediate-level gene serum from his pocket and injected it into Long Shanhao’s arm.

"Qianwen, guard the door for me," he instructed, not wanting any interruptions during the crucial mental guidance process.

Long Qianwen nodded solemnly and took up position by the door, every sense on high alert.

Following the X System’s instructions, Wang Ji waited for the gene serum to take effect, then carefully made contact with Long Shanhao using his vast mental energy. In the realm of the mind, Wang Ji felt as though he had run into a resilient wall—he was surprised by the intensity of Shanhao’s mental power.

"This must be at least 200 points in strength—stronger than his sister Qianwen!" Wang Ji mused.

Suddenly, Long Shanhao’s mind rippled, as if sensing changes in his body. The wall softened, and Wang Ji was able to perceive Shanhao’s mental signal.

"Who goes there? Who dares provoke Long Batian?" came a youthful, brash voice in Wang Ji’s mind.

Amused by this first-ever mental exchange and by Shanhao’s adolescent bravado, Wang Ji decided to play along.

"I am Nicholas Zhao—Sun—Heaven! And who are you?" Wang Ji pressed his overwhelming mental energy against Shanhao’s psychic barrier.

"Aha! A worthy opponent! You dare challenge my mental fortress? Prepare to meet your fate!" Shanhao shouted. Wang Ji sensed the wall shudder and collapse, revealing a sturdy youth clad in heavy armor and wielding a broadsword.

With a dramatic flourish, Shanhao wore a red cape and brandished his blade. "Who lurks there? Come forth and face your Grandpa Long!"

With a thought, Wang Ji conjured a swordsman with a giant blade to stand before Shanhao.

"Youngster, restrain your arrogance! Let me teach you a lesson!"

At his words, Wang Ji’s avatar flicked his sword, sending a flurry of sword blossoms dancing toward Shanhao.

"Impressive! Such ease and grace—my swordsmanship is even more formidable here in the mindscape. I must practice my combat skills in this domain more often," Wang Ji thought.

Feeling the pressure from Wang Ji’s greatsword, Shanhao raised his blade in defense, stepping back before launching a counterattack with his spear. Their contest quickly became evenly matched.

Shanhao’s swordplay was bold and sweeping, carrying a mysterious force that repeatedly shattered Wang Ji’s sword glimmers. Wang Ji’s own technique, honed from battlefield experience, was swift and deadly, every move targeting vital points.

As they dueled within the spiritual world, those waiting outside watched Wang Ji’s ever-changing expression with mounting anxiety—especially Long Qianwen, whose recently calmed nerves grew taut again.

Time slipped by. Wang Ji had held this pose for almost an hour, while Qianwen struggled to resist the urge to interrupt.

Meanwhile, in the mindscape, Wang Ji’s swordplay grew ever more refined. Suddenly, a realization dawned upon him. With a triumphant shout, he unleashed a dozen sword shadows from his blade, striking at Shanhao.

Shanhao tensed, feeling the surge in his opponent’s power. He quickly gathered his defenses, his blade forming a circular shield before him.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang...

The rain of sword shadows battered Shanhao’s shield relentlessly. He stumbled backwards, the number of sword phantoms dwindling, his sword hand nearly numb, barely able to protect his head and throat.

"Enough! I surrender!" he finally cried.

Clang! Crack!

Wang Ji’s final strike crashed into Shanhao’s chest, slamming into the armor and launching him dozens of meters away, where he landed face-down.

"Ha! That was exhilarating!" Wang Ji exulted inwardly.

[Commander has mastered an A-rank combat technique. Please provide a name.]

"Excellent! This move is unending—like a storm of pear blossoms in the rain. Let’s call it the Thirteen Blades of Death!"

[Name recorded! Added to the combat database. Make public?]

Wang Ji considered. "Make it public; set the requirement at five hundred military merit points for learning." Military merits were plentiful in the army and could be exchanged for valuable items. Now, alongside gene serums and exoskeleton armor, there was a new A-rank combat skill in the inventory.

With that done, Wang Ji hurried to the still-prone Shanhao.

"Hey, are you all right?"

But Shanhao, who had been feigning defeat, leapt up and quickly retreated several dozen meters.

"Who are you? You’re not like my previous opponents!"

Wang Ji scratched his head in embarrassment, then changed his avatar to his own form. Smiling, he said, "Hello, Long Shanhao. I’m... your sister’s boyfriend. You were injured, so I used my mental power to wake you."

"Oh? My sister’s boyfriend? That’s a new one. I’ve been here so long, and never thought of that before," Shanhao said, regretful. As he spoke, his armor and blade faded, and he transformed into a chubby boy of about thirteen or fourteen.

"How long have you been here? Are there others?" Wang Ji asked curiously.

Shanhao grinned and ran up to Wang Ji, fawning, "Brother-in-law? You really are my brother-in-law! Only someone this strong could be worthy. Brother-in-law, I’ve been here for ages. All I remember is my body hurting terribly, then I blacked out and woke up here. After that, all sorts of heroes kept showing up to challenge me—I defeated every one of them."

Wang Ji quickly understood. After Shanhao’s self-isolation, his powerful mind had been endlessly honing itself within his consciousness—a once-in-a-century talent for evolution, indeed.

Recalling the masterful touch in Shanhao’s swordsmanship, Wang Ji asked, "Did you develop your technique yourself?"

"Of course! Brother-in-law, I’ve loved playing with swords since I was young. With nothing else to do here, I practiced whenever I could," the chubby Shanhao replied with a cheerful grin.

Wang Ji was momentarily speechless, then suddenly remembered everyone waiting outside.

"Get ready. I’ll wake you up now. Don’t worry about your body—I’ve already given you the serum. It will safely enhance your abilities."