Chapter 175: The Grand Opening, Swarming In!

Chapter 175: The Grand Opening, Swarming In!

At the Hotel:

Strallin and his team quickly uploaded the maze path they had created into their computer. With this, their drones could scan the bamboo labyrinth and integrate the maps, allowing them to cheat their way through just as they did last time.

"Ha, now we just need to wait and collect that ten million," the black man operating the computer said with a grin.

"To avoid any surprises, like the drones being discovered, we need to memorize these paths as a backup," Strallin instructed the Vorst organization members. "Is that clear?"

Everyone nodded. For ten million, any issues would have to be resolved.

Besides, they were seasoned labyrinth experts, and memorizing maze paths was second nature to them. It wasn't a problem, and soon, they all had the paths committed to memory.

At that moment, a team member spoke up, "Strallin, a journalist from our country wants to interview us. Should we see her?"

Strallin smiled, "Why not? This will help spread our name."

The team member nodded in agreement.

Shortly after, a curvaceous blonde woman entered the hotel. She was a somewhat famous journalist from Hollywood.

But it didn't matter. Once they won the ten million and conquered the bamboo labyrinth, even the smallest journalist could turn the story into a major sensation.

"Mr. Strallin, it looks like you're preparing for the maze challenge!" the blonde journalist said with a bright smile as she entered.

Strallin shook his head, "No, we're fully prepared and just waiting to claim that ten million!"

...

Zhenwu Temple:

After delegating some tasks, Daoist Master Zixu set off down the mountain with a young Daoist disciple. As they descended, he continued chatting with other Daoist masters in a group chat.

Several Daoist masters would be joining him, and they had already informed Liyuan Farm.

If they were going to another temple, their group's visit would be considered a significant event in the Daoist community.

"Master, do you think Liyuan Farm has really set up the Bagua Array?" the young disciple asked curiously. "How could they be so skilled?"

"They are indeed very skilled!" Daoist Master Zixu marveled.

Zhenwu Temple was far from Liyuan Farm, so Daoist Master Zixu first took a flight to Ming City and then a high-speed train to Youcheng Station.

The station was packed with people, and the crowd was so dense that it was nearly impossible to move. Initially, he didn't want to trouble the farm and planned to go on his own, but he decided to call the number provided by Liyuan Farm.

Shortly after, a station staff member approached him and invited him to enter the station through another entrance.

Liyuan Farm:

Zhao Han, the Tourism Bureau Director, had already arrived at Zhang Lin's office to have a cup of tea.

The Tourism Bureau had been closely monitoring the news about Liyuan Farm's bamboo labyrinth, so when the news of the labyrinth's upgrade was released, the director was the first to come and gather information.

Naturally, there was another matter to discuss: the arrangements for the Daoist masters.

The Daoist masters had agreed to visit Liyuan Farm to discuss the Bagua Array, but as spiritual practitioners, they preferred a quiet environment and didn't want to stay in the bustling farm. Therefore, the Tourism Bureau took over the arrangements and found a suitable location, the Jinyun Temple, for the Daoist masters to stay.

Zhang Lin understood Zhao Han's intentions. This would give the Tourism Bureau a chance to promote Jinyun Temple, mentioning that several renowned Daoist masters had stayed there.

While it was uncertain how effective this would be, they were determined to try.

The spirit of promoting tourism was commendable.

As they were enjoying their tea, Lin Muxue rushed in, "Mr. Zhang, Daoist Master Zixu from Zhenwu Temple has arrived, and I've sent someone to pick him up."

"Have the other Daoist masters arrived?" Zhang Lin asked immediately.

Lin Muxue explained, "Two more will arrive in the morning, and the rest will come in the afternoon. If all goes well, none of the Daoist masters will miss tomorrow's event."

Indeed, the next day was the grand opening of the Bamboo Labyrinth—Bagua Array event, open to all tourists, including the members of the Vorst organization.

Soon, Daoist Master Zixu was picked up and brought to Liyuan Farm.

He and the young Daoist disciple had just stepped out of the car when Lin Muxue, who had been waiting, came forward to greet them: "Daoist Master Zixu, welcome to the farm. Our boss is waiting for you."

"I also look forward to meeting the layman. Thank you, Miss Lin." Daoist Master Zixu immediately clasped his hands in a Daoist salute and followed Lin Muxue toward the office center.

Daoist Master Zixu's arrival naturally caught the attention of many tourists, who knew the Daoist master was there for the bamboo labyrinth.

Now, this matter has captured everyone's attention.

Upon entering the office center, Daoist Master Zixu met with Zhang Lin and Zhao Han.

Lin Muxue quickly introduced both parties.

When Zixu looked at Zhang Lin, his eyes were filled with surprise.

Studying the I Ching and the transformations of the Eight Trigrams requires a deep understanding of Daoist texts, which are extremely dry and uninteresting, making it hard for most young people to stay focused and read them.

Yet, the person who created the Eight Trigrams diagram was such a young boss.

Such talent, not put towards Dao cultivation, is truly a waste.

As time passed, it was noon, and two more Daoist masters arrived: Daoist Master Chen from Wudang and Daoist Master Xuanlin from Qingfeng.

Both were well-known figures in the Daoist community.

After lunch, Zhang Lin invited the three Daoist masters for tea. Zhao Han also stayed, primarily to learn more about the Bamboo Forest Maze.

There was no choice; the latest news from Liu County was that the influx of people in Youcheng was overwhelming.

Today, whether by highway or high-speed train, the number of people entering Youcheng had surged, far exceeding the norm.

Liu County naturally knew that these people were coming for the Bamboo Forest Maze and the 10 million yuan reward.

But for Youcheng, this was a good thing. The influx of people would boost the local economy, starting with food and lodging, which would bring significant expenses for tens of thousands of visitors, along with other aspects.

Therefore, what Liu County feared most was any issue with the Bamboo Forest Maze, so they had Zhao Han stay at the farm and even dispatched police support to the tourism bureau to ensure the maze's event went smoothly the next day.

"Master Zhang, I wonder if the Eight Trigrams array in your Bamboo Forest Maze has any variables?" Daoist Master Zixu finally couldn't hold back his question. He had been eager to ask since he arrived.

Daoist Masters Chen and Xuanlin also instinctively looked at Zhang Lin.

Because an Eight Trigrams array with variables is a true Eight Trigrams array; otherwise, it's just a maze with an Eight Trigrams shape.

At the very least, it should have one variable.

"Yes, it has a few variables," Zhang Lin didn't hide this fact and added, "I must thank the Daoist masters for the texts you provided; they were very enlightening."

"Several!" Daoist Master Zixu was genuinely surprised.

The other two Daoist masters were equally astonished, as they knew how terrifying an Eight Trigrams array with five variables could be. If the variables kept changing, in this modern era, without cheating, no one might be able to navigate it.

Daoist Master Xuanlin sighed, "Master Zhang's understanding of Daoist texts is truly admirable. It's a pity you don't cultivate Dao."

Daoist Master Chen also nodded, "Master Zhang's talent for Dao cultivation surpasses ours. It's a shame you don't cultivate."

"..." Zhang Lin's lips twitched.

What the hell!

Zhao Han was also stunned, even more confused about the variables and why they were suddenly talking about cultivation again.

But he summarized that Boss Zhang was very impressive.

He admitted that.

"Master Zhang, can we go to the Bamboo Forest Maze to take a look?" Daoist Master Zixu asked with anticipation.

He had dedicated his life to Dao cultivation and had studied the Eight Trigrams and the I Ching for a long time. No one in the country could match him in this field, but he had never had the chance to put his knowledge into practice. Now, he was eager to try.

Daoist Masters Xuanlin and Chen felt the same way. As renowned Daoist masters, they were among the best in this field. Together, they believed they could attempt to break through the Eight Trigrams array.

"Of course, Daoist masters, please follow me," Zhang Lin also wanted to test it.

These three were Daoist experts, and their understanding of the Eight Trigrams and the I Ching should make them the most likely to navigate the array. Otherwise, even if Sun Xuan from the Dragon Science Academy came, without knowledge of the Eight Trigrams and the I Ching, she would likely fail.

With Zhang Lin's agreement, the three Daoist masters looked pleased and immediately followed him out of the office.

Zhao Han, who had been eager to see the new Bamboo Forest Maze, also followed.

Coincidentally, as Zhang Lin led the group out of the office center, he ran into Chu Heng, who had brought the "Super Brain" show to the farm. Knowing they were heading to the Bamboo Forest Maze, Chu Heng quickly joined them.

Soon, Zhang Lin led the group into the Eight Trigrams array.

The three Daoist masters were highly enthusiastic, especially Daoist Master Zixu. As soon as they entered the array, he said, "This Eight Trigrams array is based on the Eight Trigrams diagram and the I Ching. Therefore, we need to find the variables first. We can do this by exploring the eight positions of the trigrams..."

As he spoke, he began to search.

Seeing this, Zhang Lin knew that the Daoist was truly skilled, as his subsequent calculations were all correct, and they were about to find the first variable. However, the Daoist suddenly froze.

The other two Daoists also froze.

As they carefully recalculated, they suddenly realized they had made a mistake in the earlier part of their calculations. It was clear that the effect of the "Intelligence Reduction +1" attribute was influencing the three Daoists.

In the following moments, the three Daoists began to panic, and cold sweat started to bead on their foreheads.

As for Zhao Han and Chu Heng, they were just following along, feeling dizzy from the crisscrossing paths. Walking it would have been even more challenging.

Finally, the three Daoists all sighed in unison, their faces filled with dejection.

Daoist Zixu said helplessly, "Sir Zhang, we seem to be lost. We need your help to get out!"

The other two Daoists also sighed in succession.

Zhang Lin smiled and nodded, understanding that the three Daoists had done their best, and his experimental purpose had been achieved.

Then, he led the group back, and as they passed a wall of vines, he pressed a stone block, and the vine wall slid open to reveal a straight path.

If they had come from the other side, it would have been a dead end, but now they could save a lot of time by going this way.

Zhang Lin walked forward.

This scene left Zhao Han and Chu Heng with their mouths agape.

How did he do that?

This kind of thing only happens in movies, right?

The three Daoists were even more shocked, realizing that Sir Zhang's understanding of the Eight Trigrams and the I Ching was far beyond their expectations.

While the three Daoists failed to navigate the Bamboo Forest Maze, many netizens had already arrived in Youcheng, enticed by the 10 million yuan prize. These netizens had memorized the paths from screenshots, hoping to claim the 10 million yuan.

Meanwhile, contestants from the "Brainiest" competition, whether invited to participate in the show or not, also flocked to Youcheng.

The 10 million yuan prize was a significant draw, and the high level of attention made it a perfect time to gain exposure. Even if they didn't win the prize, a standout performance could still garner a lot of attention.

The influx of people into Youcheng prompted the local traffic police to immediately take to the streets to maintain order.

Time passed, and the next day arrived. The Bamboo Forest Maze event brought Youcheng to a boiling point, with countless people swarming to the maze.

However, upon reaching Liyuan Farm, they found that the entrance was blocked by a group of burly men, making it impossible to enter.

Ye Ling addressed the gathering crowd, "Please present your tickets. Only visitors who have purchased a ticket for any Liyuan Farm project can enter today."

Knowing that a large crowd would come, the farm had prepared in advance. Otherwise, the farm couldn't accommodate so many people. By keeping them in Youcheng, they could contribute to the local economy. After all, with the allure of the 10 million yuan prize, few would leave immediately.

Many were disappointed, but those with tickets were excitedly presenting their tickets and heading inside.

At the same time, on a national road with a clear view of the Bamboo Forest Maze, a minivan pulled up and stopped. A black man and a white man got out and opened the back door, revealing a neatly arranged set of electronic equipment.

The black man immediately took out a drone, started it, and soon it was flying overhead in several circles. He then reported, "Sterling, our drone is functioning normally. We are waiting for your instructions and will control the drone to fly over as soon as we receive them."

On the other side, a car pulled into a parking lot. Sterling, hearing the report through his earpiece, smiled. "Excellent, we have arrived at the farm. Wait for my command."

He got out of the car and headed toward the Bamboo Forest Maze, seeing Ye Ling and his team checking tickets.

They didn't have tickets.

Sterling walked up to Ye Ling and asked teasingly, "You're not going to refuse to let us in, using the lack of tickets as an excuse, are you?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end