The Great Dao Simplified: From Perfecting Divine Archery to Becoming a True Immortal

Yu State.

Qingzhou, Mucheng.

It's the end of the year.

East Street is bustling with people.

On both sides of the street, vendors sell vegetables, steamed buns, tofu, meat, and noodles.

There are also peddlers carrying baskets and selling candied haws.

It's bustling with activity.

On the left side of the street, a small breakfast shop has a sign that reads "Sister Zhen's Noodle House."

Two or three customers are sitting inside, eating noodles.

"Hello, what would you like? I have plain noodles, egg noodles..."

The proprietress, Sister Zhen, who is about twenty-three or twenty-four, with a voluptuous figure and a pretty face, is cooking noodles and enthusiastically soliciting customers.

Among the pedestrians, a young man, about sixteen or seventeen, with washed-out clothes and a pale face, hurried towards West Street.

"Changsheng, where are you going?"

The proprietress, Sister Zhen, called out immediately, her sharp eyes sharp. "Sister Zhen, I'll go get some medicine."

The young man paused, turned around, and agreed.

"Come in and sit down. Have a bowl of noodles first."

Sister Zhen put down the bamboo net bag for the noodles and said warmly.

"No, Sister Zhen, I've already eaten."

Lin Changsheng shook his head. A bowl of noodles cost four copper coins. He planned to get the medicine and then go back to cook some whole grains.

It had been over a month since he traveled here.

His parents had both passed away, leaving behind three tiled houses and a small amount of savings.

However, this body was frail, with chest tightness, shortness of breath, and a sickly appearance. Those savings were almost gone, and the doctor couldn't figure out the cause. To this day, he couldn't work, and no one wanted him outside. To save money, he cooked all his meals at home.

Lin Changsheng was once depressed after traveling back in time as a sickly person.

But...

As time passed, he gradually came to terms with it. Being alive and in good health was better than anything else. If he died again, Lin Changsheng doubted he would be able to travel back again. "If you've finished, then add some more. I'm treating you. The noodles are already cooked. It would be a waste if you don't!"

Sister Zhen ran out, grabbed Lin Changsheng's hand, and pulled him inside.

"This... I feel so embarrassed to eat your noodles so often..."

Lin Changsheng scratched his head. He'd eaten a lot of Sister Zhen's noodles before; after all, running a small business wasn't easy.

"Why are you being so polite?"

Sister Zhen pulled Lin Changsheng into the noodle shop, sat him down against the wall, and turned to scoop up the noodles.

"Changsheng, come here. The noodles are ready."

Sister Zhen soon brought a bowl of steaming vegetarian noodles, with broth, chopped green onions, a few slices of green vegetables, and a braised egg.

"Sister Zhen, you even gave me an extra braised egg! This..."

Lin Changsheng said, picking at the noodles with his chopsticks.

"That was my treat. You've been so helpful."

Sister Zhen looked at Lin Changsheng and smiled.

"Thank you, Sister Zhen."

Lin Changsheng felt a warm feeling in his heart.

In fact. This Sister Zhen has a tough life. Her husband died two years ago, and she's been raising her children and mother-in-law alone. She opened Sister Zhen's noodle shop to make a living. For over a month now, whenever she sees him, she'll drag him in for noodles, finding all sorts of excuses to treat him.

So-called help?

Lin Changsheng had merely helped Yan Zhen take care of the children for a few days.

"Sister Zhen, I'm done."

Lin Changsheng finished his noodles in a few bites, then stood up and said to Sister Zhen.

"Changsheng, come to the noodle shop tomorrow and help me. I can't handle selling noodles alone."

Sister Zhen glanced at Lin Changsheng and said.

"This..."

Lin Changsheng heard this and knew his own situation. The body he'd traveled to was sickly. He'd been seeing doctors for over a month but couldn't get a cure. He'd been unemployed, and if he came to the noodle shop to help out, he'd probably need Sister Zhen's care!

"Changsheng, don't hesitate. Come early tomorrow morning!"

Sister Zhen saw Lin Changsheng's concerns and waved her off. "Well, thank you, Sister Zhen!"

Lin Changsheng nodded, his pretentiousness gone.

In his current situation, he really needed to find a job, fill his stomach, and survive.

Lin Changsheng said goodbye to Sister Zhen and had just left the noodle shop when he came face to face with three slovenly young men with eagle tattoos on their chests. The older man in the lead, with buck teeth and an upturned nose, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, looked at Lin Changsheng and said, "Lin Changsheng, it's the end of the month, and it's time to pay your monthly salary."

Lin Changsheng knew that the buck-toothed young man was a member of the Mucheng Green Snake Gang, named Tieyang, who was responsible for collecting protection fees on that street.

"Okay."

Lin Changsheng rummaged in his pocket and pulled out two copper coins, handing them to the young man.

The Green Snake Gang dominated Mucheng East Street. Every month, every resident, shopkeeper, vendor, and street singer had to pay varying amounts of protection fees. "The gang leader said the monthly salary will increase starting this month."

"You still have to pay one copper coin."

Tie Yang raised his eyebrows.

"Okay."

Lin Changsheng's expression remained unchanged as he took out another copper coin and handed it over.

Lin Changsheng's previous incarnation, whose parents had both passed away, had used his savings to treat his illness. After over a month, his condition hadn't improved, and his savings had been almost completely depleted.

Not paying protection money?

The Green Snake Gang wasn't easy to deal with. Lin Changsheng heard that a month ago, a young man, relying on his youth and strength, refused to pay. He was discovered the next day and committed suicide by drowning. There was also a street singer who broke three ribs because he was slow to pay.

He was ill and struggling to survive in this world, so for now, he could only compromise.

"You're so straightforward!"

"Next month, it's still three copper coins! Don't forget!"

Tie Yang patted Lin Changsheng on the shoulder, a look of satisfaction on his face, as he went door to door collecting protection money. "Huh? What's this?"

"Golden...finger?"

Suddenly, Lin Changsheng saw a translucent, pale white panel appear in the corner of his eye.

Excited, Lin Changsheng hurried back to his three-room tiled house, locked the door, and sat down on the bed. With a flicker of his mind, the pale blue panel reappeared.

[Simple Great Way: Level 1]

[Lin Changsheng: 16/55]

[Cultivation: None]

[Technique: None]

[Skills: None]

[Spend a certain amount of silver to simplify your techniques, martial arts, etc.]

[Status: Yin Qi invading the body]

"Yin Qi invading the body! No wonder!"

Seeing the status bar on the panel, Lin Changsheng was shocked.

The doctor couldn't cure his illness; it turned out he was infected with Yin Qi!

However, with this panel, the Yin Qi should be able to be dispelled, and there's hope his body will return to normal!

"Spend a certain amount of silver to simplify your techniques and martial arts?"

Lin Changsheng stared at the panel, lost in thought. He didn't have any silver.

However...

Lin Changsheng remembered that his mother in his previous life had left behind a pair of jade bracelets, a pair of jade rings, and a pair of white jade pendants as a dowry. He could pawn them for emergency use, but he didn't dare try until he had the skills. If he pawned them for silver, he wouldn't be able to hide it from Tie Yang of the Green Snake Gang.

He also didn't have any martial arts techniques.

Martial arts masters keep their martial arts secrets, but if you want to learn martial arts techniques and skills, go to the Iron Hand Martial Arts School in the city. It's said that anyone with silver can enter and receive instruction in martial arts training!

Lin Changsheng heard that the entrance fee to the Iron Hand Martial Arts School was 10 taels of silver.

He had to find a way to get the silver.

...............

Lin Changsheng's home was two miles behind Zhenjie's Noodle Shop.

The next day, before dawn, he arrived to help out at the noodle shop. They were closed for the afternoon. "Changsheng, go to my house and get me the rolling pin from the yard."

Sister Zhen, kneading the dough, turned to Lin Changsheng and said.

"Okay."

Lin Changsheng nodded and turned to go to Sister Zhen's house. It was a small courtyard with three tiled houses two miles behind the noodle shop. He pushed open the iron gate and searched the yard for a rolling pin.

"Bow?"

Suddenly, in the corner of the yard, Lin Changsheng spotted a dusty bow. It looked sturdy. After all, Lin Changsheng had loved bows and arrows since childhood, having made one himself out of bamboo and hemp rope, so the sight of this bow intrigued him.

Lin Changsheng picked it up, drew the string, aimed at the distance, and, assuming an archery stance, casually flicked it a few times.

He admired the hunting bow for a moment longer before putting it down, finding his rolling pin, and heading back to the shop. "I've discovered the skill Archery. Do you want to spend 1 tael of silver to simplify it?"

Suddenly, Lin Changsheng saw a message pop up on the panel in the corner of his eye, along with a "Yes" and "No" button.

The panel read: [Skill: Archery]

"Just flick the bow and you gain Archery?"

"Spend 1 tael of silver, and you can simplify your Archery? What will it be after you simplify it?"

Lin Changsheng's eyes widened, surprised and excited.

"It seems I'll just have to take the jade bracelet, jade ring, and white jade pendant to the pawnshop in West City to sell some of them!"

Lin Changsheng pondered for a moment, thinking to himself.

He only had a little over 200 coins.

That jade bracelet.

If he sold it at the East Street pawnshop, Tie Yang would definitely get wind of it and come.

Going to West City wasn't Green Snake Gang territory.

For safety's sake, he planned to sell it in batches.

................

Afternoon. Lin Changsheng wore a large hat and loose-fitting clothes, pulling the brim down. He took a jade bracelet and a pair of white jade pendants, pawned them at the Jishiyu Pawnshop in the west side of Mucheng, and exchanged them for seven taels of silver. After making many twists and turns, and making sure no one was following him, he finally returned to his home on East Street.

You know, these days, seven taels of silver would cover a family of three's expenses for a year and a half, so it's best to be cautious.

Upon his arrival, Lin Changsheng eagerly locked the door.

"Simplify your archery!"

Lin Changsheng extended his hand, confirming, "Yes."

[The Great Way of Simplicity: Archery Simplification Begins... Simplification in Progress... Simplification Successful... Archery == Touch the Bow!]

After the simplification was successful, a notification appeared on the control panel. [Simple Great Way: Level 1]

[Lin Changsheng: 16/55]

[Cultivation: Average 0/100]

[Skill: None]

[Skill: Archery (Beginner 0/100)]

[Spend a certain amount of silver to simplify your skills, martial arts, etc.]

[Status: Yin Qi invading your body]

"Is there progress in my archery skill? Does that mean... just touching the bow will increase my progress?"

Lin Changsheng's eyes lit up. He remembered the bow at Sister Zhen's house. She'd heard it was her husband's hunting tool. Should I get it and try it out?

"Changsheng, if you want to practice archery, take it!"

At Sister Zhen's house, Yan Zhen heard that Lin Changsheng wanted the bow that had been discarded in a corner and immediately took it out and gave it to him.

"Thank you, Sister Zhen!"

Lin Changsheng took the bow, said goodbye to Yan Zhen, and quickly returned home, where he tried to touch it. Suddenly, he noticed that the data on the panel had increased by one point: [Skill: Archery (Beginner 1/100)].

Lin Changsheng immediately took the bow in his left hand and gently stroked it with his right. He watched his archery skill steadily increase, and soon, he had progressed from beginner to proficient!

[Skill: Archery (Proficient 1/500)]

At the same time, a stream of archery techniques and methods emerged in Lin Changsheng's mind, merging with his consciousness.

At that moment,

Lin Changsheng felt as if he had been practicing archery for six months!

At the same time, his vision and hearing had improved significantly, and even his strength seemed to have increased somewhat.

"With this "Great Dao is Simple" function, if I can obtain a method to cultivate Qi and blood and simplify it, perhaps I can expel the Yin Qi invading my body!"

As Lin Changsheng stroked the bow, his heart was filled with anticipation, full of hope for the future.

Generally speaking. The most frightening thing about Yin Qi invading the body is an excess of Qi and blood. If one's Qi and blood were strong enough, this Yin Qi would surely be dispelled!

He'd had enough of these sickly days!

...............

In a blink of an eye.

With the New Year approaching, the weather grew colder.

A heavy snow blanketed Mucheng in a blanket of white.

The streets were sparsely populated by a few hurried pedestrians. Zhenjie Noodle Shop was closed for the day.

Zhenjie Noodle Shop was a mile away.

[Simplified Great Way: Level 1]

[Lin Changsheng: 16/55]

[Cultivation: Below-average (99/100)]

[Skills: None]

[Skill: Archery (Great Perfection)]

[Simplified skills, martial arts, etc., can be simplified by spending a certain amount of silver. [Status: Yin Qi Invading]

Lin Changsheng stood in the courtyard, glanced at the control panel, drew his bow, and, exerting all his strength, released an arrow. With a whoosh, the wooden arrow he had carved himself penetrated the locust tree twenty feet away, more than an inch deep, the tail feathers trembling!

"Not bad! With my current archery skills, I should be able to hit the target from a hundred paces!"

Lin Changsheng stepped forward and drew the arrow, feeling very satisfied.

His archery skills had reached perfection, and Lin Changsheng felt a significant increase in strength. Although the Yin Qi invasion had not yet subsided, he was no longer the sickly-looking man he had been before, and his complexion had improved significantly.

"If I want to learn the techniques to increase my Qi and blood, I must enter a martial arts school!"

Lin Changsheng secretly made up his mind.

He planned to spend ten taels of silver as the entrance fee to the Iron Hand Martial Arts School. As long as he learned a martial art and successfully entered, he could advance!

He currently had six taels of silver left, and he planned to find time to pawn his pair of jade rings and a jade bracelet to raise the entrance fee. At that moment, the sound of snow crunching underfoot could be heard.

"Changsheng, I made some soup and brought it to you. Remember to eat it while it's hot."

Sister Zhen, wearing a thick cotton coat, held a box in her left hand and a coat in her right. She handed it to Lin Changsheng and said, "Put on this coat after you finish eating."

"Sister Zhen, you..."

Lin Changsheng's heart trembled, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

He hadn't expected Sister Zhen to bring him food and a coat at this time.

"Stop talking. Take it. It's so cold, and you're weak, and your clothes are so thin. I'm leaving now."

Sister Zhen put down her things and hurried away.

Lin Changsheng took a deep breath. Sister Zhen was truly a kind and good woman.

Sister Zhen brought him steaming chicken soup.

Lin Changsheng ate it while it was hot. Although the coat was worn, it was very clean.

................

There were still 15 days until Lunar New Year's Eve.

Sister Zhen's Noodle House. "Changsheng, why don't you have New Year's Eve dinner at my house this year!"

Lin Changsheng was about to leave work and go home to the East City Rumeiji Pawnshop to sell his jade bracelet when Sister Zhen's voice reached him.

"Thank you, Sister. Shopkeeper Yang asked me to go to his house for New Year's Eve dinner. We'll talk then."

Lin Changsheng hurriedly said.

Sister Zhen's mother-in-law is so mean and sarcastic. Wouldn't it cause a stir if I went to have New Year's Eve dinner alone?

As for Shopkeeper Yang?

That was Lin Changsheng's excuse, but Shopkeeper Yang was also a very kind person.

Although Lin Changsheng was frail, Shopkeeper Yang still wanted him to marry his daughter, Yang Xiaoqian, as a live-in son-in-law.

In Shopkeeper Yang's opinion, although Lin Changsheng was thin, he had handsome features. If he had better food, he would be an absolute beauty.

"Well... all right!"

Sister Zhen nodded.

After work, Lin Changsheng followed the same route to West City, this time skipping the Timely Rain Pawnshop. Instead, he pawned his remaining jade bracelet and a pair of jade rings at a pawnshop in a desperate situation, exchanging them for 8 taels and 6 qian of silver. He then made a long, winding journey back to East Street, confirming once again that no one was around before returning home.

................

Iron Hand Martial Arts School.

It is one of the three major martial arts schools in Mucheng.

The school's owner, He Tieshou, practices the Iron Sand Palm, rumored to be able to break stone and split rocks. He is considered one of Mucheng's three greatest masters!

Unlike the Jinzhong and Liuyun Martial Arts Schools, the number of disciples is more important than the quality.

At the Iron Hand Martial Arts School, students can enter and receive instruction in the Iron Sand Palm for a mere 10 taels of silver. This means that the school has far more disciples than the Liuyun and Jinzhong schools combined!

Because of its proven methods of generating income, the Iron Hand Martial Arts School occupies a vast area. Two stone lions, half a meter tall, stand majestically at the entrance.

"Little brother, pay me ten taels of silver, and I'll register you and give you a disciple ID card. You'll be a disciple of my Iron Hand Martial Arts School."

At the entrance of the Iron Hand Martial Arts School, He Jin, who was recruiting disciples, looked at Lin Changsheng with great enthusiasm.

Another person offering money had arrived. He was already past the prime age for martial arts training, and if he couldn't make the first move with Iron Sand Palm after three months, the ten taels of silver he had paid would be in vain. If he wanted to continue training at the school, he had to pay more.