My low-key cultivation of immortality was discovered by the emperor in my diary.

Chapter 248 Plum Blossom Maze, Innate Keenness

Old Man Merlin pointed to the side and said:

"Congratulations on passing the first test. The second test will be held in the plum blossom grove next to me."

"You may choose any entrance. As long as you can leave this plum blossom grove within the time it takes for three incense sticks to burn, you will pass."

"This level does not restrict how you pass it; you can participate in teams. However, if someone deliberately damages the plum tree, it will be considered as giving up the challenge and disqualifying them from continuing to participate."

"Furthermore, everyone can rest assured that there are no traps or mechanisms set up inside. If you are still unable to get out within three incense sticks' time, I will send someone in to meet you."

After carefully listening to the rules of the second round, Yi Xiaoqi held the plum blossom bamboo stick in her hand and said in a low voice, "I thought that accepting apprentices would involve testing qualifications and fighting, but I didn't expect it to be a lottery and a maze."

She knew very well that she was not good at it, but she came here with a try-it-out mentality, just to see the world and broaden her horizons.

But the selection process for Elder Merlin's apprentices seemed so simple that Yi Xiaoqi couldn't help but feel even more confident.

She had been playing and frolicking in the mountains and forests since she was a child, so navigating a maze was no problem for her.

Many others share a similar mindset with her.

As the old man Meilin finished speaking, the crowd began to whisper among themselves, discussing the plum blossom forest, the second challenge.

Someone asked hesitantly, "May I ask, senior, just how big is this plum blossom grove?"

The old man Meilin replied with a smile, "It's neither too big nor too small. Please rest assured, with your pace, you will be able to cross it in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

Upon hearing this, everyone felt somewhat relieved.

Since Elder Merlin has said so, then this plum blossom grove is indeed not dangerous, nor should it be too difficult.

After all, the first level is just a lottery, Merlin's Maze is the second level, and there are two more levels to come.

So, everyone began to look around for acquaintances or like-minded people, forming teams on their own, hoping to support each other in the upcoming trials.

The first incense stick was lit, and wisps of smoke rose into the air.

The group then set off, each choosing their preferred entrance, and stepped into the plum grove filled with the fragrance of plum blossoms.

Not wanting to fall behind, Yi Xiaoqi was about to take a step forward when she was suddenly stopped by Chu Lengyu.

"Senior Chu, is there something wrong?" Although she had doubts, she still asked politely.

Chu Lengyu smiled slightly and said, "Don't rush. Sometimes, observation is more important than action."

Although Yi Xiaoqi was anxious, she thought about it again and realized that what Senior Chu said was absolutely right. So she decided to suppress her impulse for the time being and stand aside.

She then realized that while most people rushed into Merlin, a few were more cautious, staying outside and choosing to observe quietly for a while before taking action.

Yi Xiaoqi immediately showed an expression of sudden realization.

What should this be called... planning before acting?

More and more people are stepping into that mysterious plum blossom forest.

Yi Xiaoqi remained standing outside the forest, trying to observe the figures inside and glean clues from their actions.

At first glance, this plum blossom grove seems like an ordinary sea of ​​flowers, but after looking at it for a while, it becomes like a vortex that can devour your mind.

Yi Xiaoqi discovered that just by staring at a plum tree for a while, she felt dizzy, as if the plum tree in front of her could move.

This second hurdle is clearly not as simple as it seems on the surface.

Some people, once they enter the forest, feel as if they are trapped in a maze, wandering around in the same place, unable to find the way forward.

Others, however, seem to have discerned some kind of pattern in the forest. The paths they choose, though seemingly winding and even repetitive, always manage to cleverly avoid the confusing parts and advance deeper into the forest.

Of course, some people chose unconventional routes, such as marking the way, jumping high to observe, or using their agility to traverse the forest.

After all, Elder Merlin himself said that this test would be open to all kinds of people.

They'll come up with any method as long as they can get through it.

After observing for a long time, a confident light gradually appeared in Yi Xiaoqi's eyes. She felt that she had glimpsed a clue to the secrets of this plum blossom grove, and an urge to explore it herself welled up in her heart.

So she turned to look at Chu Lengyu, her eyes filled with determination: "Senior Chu, I want to go in and try to see if I can find the right path."

Chu Lengyu simply said, "Go ahead, trust your intuition."

Hearing this, Yi Xiaoqi's confidence increased even more.

She took a deep breath, strode forward, and entered the challenging plum blossom grove before the first incense stick had burned out.

Based on the patterns she had observed while out in the field, she carefully moved through the plum grove.

Every step she took was perfectly timed, neither hurried nor hesitant, as if an invisible line was guiding her forward.

She found that she not only did not lose her way in this complicated plum blossom forest, but also found that the more she walked, the smoother it became, which made her very happy.

This joy was not only because she hadn't gotten lost, but also because she felt as if she had truly seen through the secret of this plum blossom grove and felt a wonderful resonance with it.

When choosing a path, Yi Xiaoqi demonstrated extraordinary decisiveness.

She didn't hesitate at all; every turn and every step she took seemed so natural.

She was filled with curiosity about the unknown, yet remained clear-headed and calm.

At first glance, this plum blossom grove appears to be a peaceful and tranquil place, with plum blossoms blooming and a captivating fragrance. However, upon deeper exploration, one discovers that hidden currents and profound mysteries lie beneath the surface.

It is captivating, yet elusive.

Many people, once they enter the forest, feel as if they have fallen into a fog, surrounded by the same scenery, making it impossible to distinguish east from west and north from south, and they are unable to extricate themselves.

They either hesitated or stumbled blindly, but they could never find the way to the exit.

However, Yi Xiaoqi seemed to be an exception.

The path she chose was neither a straight line nor a blind following of others, but rather a journey guided by intuition and decisive decision-making, reflecting her unique way of progress.

This plum blossom grove, though not large, seemed to possess endless variations, easily trapping the two hundred challengers.

Some of them tried to follow the common method of solving mazes, walking steadily in one direction, only to find that no matter how they walked, they could not reach the end, as if they were trapped in an endless loop.

Some people were following closely behind the person in front of them, but in the blink of an eye they lost them, and all that was left in front of them was a lonely plum tree blocking their way.

Merlin silently observed everyone's performance. Whether they were lone wolves or banded together, he could glean some of their traits from their actions in this challenge.

This is also a form of invisible selection.

It is not included in the official levels, but it will play an important role in the end.

Yi Xiaoqi's performance in the plum blossom grove undoubtedly left a deep impression on the old man of the plum grove.