That being said, Chen Jianhai genuinely admired the design of the Magic Century Theme Park.
It truly lived up to being a magic park built with strong financial backing and powerful resources. The grandeur was undeniable! Even just a pedestrian street on Qiqiao Avenue was so extravagantly designed, vividly rendering light and shadow to create a magical effect.
After passing through the magnificent and bustling Qiqiao Avenue, the noise from the streets gradually faded away. The atmosphere grew quieter, and the number of trees visibly increased. After crossing an arched bridge, a large garden with an ancient charm appeared before their eyes.
"Tsk tsk tsk!"
"This park is really interesting," Chen Jianhai remarked as he walked in, his voice filled with surprise. "It's so lively outside, but inside, they've actually built a garden hotel."
"..." Xu Bo and the others glanced at Chen Jianhai. For some reason, his tone seemed to carry a hint of schadenfreude mixed with regret, as if he secretly wished that the Colorful Holiday Resort Hotel was a garden-style building.
Compared to the cheerful and lively name "Colorful Holiday," the hotel in front of them clearly aimed for a "tranquility amidst the hustle" vibe. The small vermilion buildings exuded an ancient charm, connected by stone paths or corridors, with artificial hills and flowing water surrounding them. Every landscape layout was meticulously designed, offering a new view with every step, creating a serene and leisurely atmosphere. In front of the lobby, a small pool lay quietly, with a few green water jars placed inside. The jars held lotus flowers, and a few koi fish swam lazily in the pool.
Having built two or three hotels himself, Chen Jianhai had a high standard for appreciating the aesthetics and comfort of hotel interiors.
"The design and service of this hotel are pretty good, but the smell in the room is overwhelming!"
As soon as they opened the door with their room key, Chen Jianhai and the other two were hit by a strong wave of formaldehyde.
Aside from the smell, the room's layout was fairly standard. Three large beds were tightly arranged together, making the already cramped room feel even more crowded. The bedside tables, desks, and lamps all had an antique style. The bathroom wasn't luxurious, but it had all the essentials—toothbrushes, toothpaste, toiletries, a hairdryer, mattress, pillows, and blankets... everything was functional.
Opening the minibar, however, revealed it was empty.
"Anyway, it's still livable," Chen Jianhai said, twisting open a bottle of water that would cost 1.5 yuan outside, drinking it while summarizing with a hint of disdain.
It wasn't that Chen Jianhai looked down on the Colorful Holiday Resort. It was just that the hotel had clearly spent all its money on the public areas and park scenery, while the room experience was rather mediocre.
Perhaps it was because he was used to staying in his own platinum five-star hotels. Both the Langai Hotel and the Island Hotel had high ceilings, so even though Chen Jianhai was 1.9 meters tall, he felt comfortable and unconstrained inside. But the Colorful Holiday Resort's beams were noticeably lower. Sitting down was fine, but standing up made him feel stifled.
The stark contrast immediately highlighted the difference in quality.
"Not even a drink in the minibar, and they charge 1,428 yuan per night for this room?!" Xiao Lang glanced at the empty minibar and cursed unhappily.
Chen Jianhai tried to console him, "It's normal. This is the only official hotel in the park, and it lets you enter an hour early. The price is reasonable."
"Pfft...!" Xiao Lang put the hotel brochure back on the table and rolled his eyes at Chen Jianhai. He flopped onto the bed, muttering in frustration, "I never thought I'd become a little green plant, absorbing formaldehyde in someone else's hotel..."
The three of them slept with the windows open that night. The next morning, after a quick breakfast at the hotel, they headed straight to the park via the hotel's express aisle.
Even though it was still in the testing phase, the number of visitors was quite substantial.
As the largest amusement park built in the country so far, the Magic Century Theme Park, despite its magical theme, was still fundamentally a park centered around roller coasters, water parks, drop towers, and giant slides.
As soon as they entered the park, the group headed straight for the most famous attraction in the Magic Century Theme Park: the "Wizard Zombie Mummy Chaos Battle"!
Thanks to their early entry privilege, the line for the "Wizard Zombie Mummy Chaos Battle" wasn't long. As soon as they reached the entrance hall, Chen Jianhai heard the broadcast overhead:
"Dear guests, hello! To better cater to the different entertainment experiences of our customers, the Magic Century Theme Park has made detailed distinctions for the suitability of each attraction. Please follow the prompts to choose your attractions wisely. The attraction you are currently at is the 'Wizard Zombie Mummy Chaos Battle.' Due to the intense effects and scale of the experience, this attraction is only suitable for customers aged 18 and above. If you have conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, or other symptoms that make you unsuitable for intense activities, please contact our staff immediately. They will guide you out of the 'Wizard World' and to the next attraction. Thank you for your understanding and support. We apologize for any inconvenience caused."
At the entrance, a male and a female staff member stood at the gate, meticulously checking each guest's identification and personal information. The inspection seemed quite strict.
"Sir, please show your ID," the staff member said.
Chen Jianhai obediently took out his ID. As he watched the staff member seriously verifying his information, he didn't find it bothersome at all. In fact, he thought it was a great practice!
"This is just like the movie rating system!" he thought.
While the amusement park was for everyone, the attractions were divided into those for adults and those for children. Kids couldn't handle scary or intense rides, and few adults enjoyed slow, childish games like ring toss or bumper cars. With such a system, children could better avoid unsuitable attractions and grow up healthy, while adults could fully decompress and enjoy a mental release in the park. It was a win-win situation!
Perfect!
After getting his ID back, Chen Jianhai was even more excited for the upcoming "Wizard Zombie Mummy Chaos Battle"!
Passing through the gate, they took their seats in order and fastened their seatbelts with the help of the staff. Then, with a loud "clang," a strong sense of weightlessness and a sudden drop hit them, accompanied by a heart-wrenching spasm in their chests. Chen Jianhai almost flew out of his seat.
"Damn!"
"Ah...!"
"My glasses!!!"
Screams and curses instantly erupted from the entire ride. Even though Chen Jianhai was brave, his mind went blank for a moment before he started screaming at the top of his lungs. The veins on his temples throbbed, and he almost threw up the little he had eaten for breakfast.
"Holy crap! This magic park is intense! Even if it's a roller coaster, shouldn't there be a buffer period before the drop?! Who the hell starts with a plunge right away?!"
In the darkness, an ancient and mysterious flute sound echoed. A yellow grain of sand blew past his eyes, transforming the entire view into a desert. A pyramid, twenty to thirty stories high, appeared before Chen Jianhai. At the base of the pyramid, layers of blood-covered,ferocious-looking soldier zombies climbed up. A group of wizards, wearing pharaoh-like masks, stood at the pyramid's peak, holding golden wands high and chanting mysterious and obscure spells.
Complex and dazzling magical patterns enveloped the scene. The massive pyramid seemed to disintegrate as countless mummies, summoned by magic, rode out on lions and giant serpents, roaring as they charged toward the zombie army.
"Holy crap, this is so cool!"
"Damn, I'm scared of snakes!"
"What part of the story is this? I've never seen it in the books!"
Although they had already witnessed the Magic Century Theme Park's light and shadow and projection technology the night before, the current scene still shocked Chen Jianhai. As the giant serpents swarmed across the ground, the seats beneath them, as well as their backs and feet,起伏拨动, as if real snakes were slithering beneath them.
"Damn!! That scared the hell out of me!"
"Snakes!! Ahhh!!!"
Screams of terror came from behind the ride. Even Chen Jianhai felt goosebumps all over his body.
Before he could react, a massive golden-red wing, accompanied by flames, spread out to his left.
The scene shifted, and countless golden-red phoenixes swooped down, breathing fire. With each flap of their wings, their feathers turned into blazing fireballs that fell to the ground, igniting a sea of flames that instantly set the massive mummy army ablaze.
"What's going on? Which side are we on?!" Xiao Lang's scream echoed in his ears.
Generally, large immersive attractions like this had a storyline, and participants would assume a specific role to experience a grand battle firsthand. Since they were in the "Wizard World," and the mummies were summoned by the wizards, it was easy for guests to side with the wizards and fight against the zombie soldiers.
But the fireballs falling from the phoenixes they were riding were clearly targeting the mummies. This stark contrast between the visuals and the storyline left Chen Jianhai confused.
Before he could figure it out, a holy light, like that of an angel's wings, flashed. Accompanied by a soul-penetrating chant, hundreds of white-robed wizards appeared on a hill, their black wands raised high toward the sky.
A powerful surge of life force, like a gushing spring, poured down from the golden sky above. The cracks on the zombie soldiers' bodies gradually healed, their withered limbs regrew flesh, and their tattered armor repaired itself, restoring them to human form.
If it had been a battle between zombies and mummies before, it had now turned into a fight between humans freed from a curse and the undead mummies! Flesh and blood clashed with the zombies, blood and sand mixing to create a spectacular scene.
Chen Jianhai felt his heart racing with the epic music and visuals.
For the entire seven minutes of the "Wizard Zombie Mummy Chaos Battle," Chen Jianhai experienced the battlefield from the perspective of a phoenix. The most intense moment was when the phoenix, from the guests' perspective, was struck by the pyramid's evil wizard's wand. To simulate the phoenix falling into a lake, the roller coaster dropped vertically.
The screams were deafening, almost soul-shattering. As they hit the water, the seats in front of them sprayed cold water, which poured down Chen Jianhai's neck, making him shiver violently and causing his chest to spasm.
At the end of the "Wizard Zombie Mummy Chaos Battle," the phoenix, having fallen into the lake, was reborn from its ashes. Flames engulfed the entire lake, and the roller coaster shot out of the water like a rocket, spinning into the sky and soaring over the battlefield as a victor.
Chen Jianhai couldn't describe the feeling. It was as if he had been thrown into a washing machine, being tossed and turned in every direction—horizontally, vertically, and even upside down. The 360-degree rotation gave him a sense of despair, as if the spinning would never end.
Finally, the "Wizard Zombie Mummy Chaos Battle" concluded with the victory of the human soldiers.
"Dear guests, the 'Wizard Zombie Mummy Chaos Battle' has ended. Please exit promptly after our staff unfasten your seatbelts. Thank you for visiting, and we hope you enjoy the rest of your day."
The lights came on, and the familiar radio static sounded again.
Chen Jianhai, Xiao Lang, Xu Bo, and Xie Zhu Long Xiong sat stiffly in their seats, their faces pale and lips trembling. Xie Zhu Long Xiong's lips even looked a bit purple. In contrast, Lin Suyang seemed completely unfazed, looking like he hadn't had enough and even helping the staff unfasten the seatbelts.
"Boss, let's go. They're going to kick us out soon," Lin Suyang said, patting Chen Jianhai, who looked dazed.
"Don't touch me yet," Chen Jianhai said weakly, raising his hand. His chest was churning, and his stomach was contracting, making him feel like throwing up.
After about six or seven seconds, Chen Jianhai, Xiao Lang, Xu Bo, and Xie Zhu Long Xiong struggled to stand up, their legs weak as they supported each other to leave the ride.
Not just them—almost everyone on the ride rushed to the nearby benches to rest. Everyone looked pale, breathing heavily and gasping for air.
Several park employees took the opportunity to run over and conduct a survey.
"Hello, could we trouble you for a few minutes to complete a survey?"
"How was your experience with the 'Wizard Zombie Mummy Chaos Battle'? Did you enjoy it?"
"Do you have any suggestions for improving or enhancing this attraction?"
...
Chen Jianhai and the others slumped nearby, listening to the feedback.
Some said the ride was too short and they didn't get enough. Others said certain parts of the roller coaster were too scary, almost killing them. Some complained that the 4D effects, like the snakes and water sprays, were too intense and should be removed. Others said the seatbelts were too hard, leaving their stomachs sore after the ride.
The suggestions were all over the place.
Finally, it was Chen Jianhai's turn. He took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth, "There weren't enough twists and turns, and the drop speed was too slow. It felt sluggish and not exciting at all! Since they already sprayed water during the phoenix's fall, why wasn't there any wind or air rush during the ascent? There was no sense of immersion! And the speed was way too slow. I strongly suggest improvements."
Xu Bo, Xiao Lang, Xie Zhu Long Xiong, and Lin Suyang: "..."
Well, there goes his petty side again.