Ch 40: The World’s Number One Resort

The entire ice walkway was two meters wide and steep, winding up the mountain. From Tang Huai’s perspective, looking up, the walkway appeared extremely treacherous, resembling the infamous “Eighteen Bends” of Mount Tai.

“Creak—”

Tang Huai took a cautious step, and the walkway emitted a sharp cracking sound. He looked down, but the path remained perfectly smooth, without any signs of cracking. It seemed like the noise was coming from beneath the walkway.

Tang Huai: … This was likely an intentional feature of the Ice Snow Walkway—a little prank built into the design.

Calming his nerves, Tang Huai continued onward. The walkway snaked along the outer side of the snow mountain, seemingly carved out of the mountain itself, creating a path that was both awe-inspiring and intimidating.

Although the sixth snow mountain was only about 100 meters high, it had a broad base, so the ice walkway stretched about 300 meters in length. Tang Huai carefully climbed along the inner side of the walkway. The outer side of the path was flanked by a two-meter-high wall made of ice bricks, reminiscent of the Great Wall of China. Ignoring the unsettling creaks underfoot, the safety of the walkway seemed reliable enough.

The floor of the walkway was also made of ice bricks. Tang Huai wore a pair of running shoes, but despite the icy surface, he found no issues with slipping, which he attributed to the system’s design. After covering about 100 meters, Tang Huai began to get used to the rhythm of walking on the ice walkway.

A biting wind swept past, and Tang Huai tightened his coat around him. The wind was brisk but not unbearably cold.

The walkway led directly to the Ice Snow Castle. Under the moonlight, the snowy landscape was breathtakingly beautiful, and Tang Huai steadily ascended toward the castle.

Half an hour later, he finally reached the entrance of the Ice Snow Castle.

The mountaintop was vast—spanning over 2,000 square meters. The castle itself took up about three-quarters of the summit.

“A masterpiece…” Tang Huai muttered as he gazed at the castle. It was an expression he had picked up from Jon.

Before him stood a crystalline archway, three meters wide and five meters tall, adorned with two massive ice flowers on either side. Though Tang Huai couldn’t identify the exact species of the flowers, it was clear that the original versions must have been stunning.

Behind the archway was the Ice Snow Castle, bathed in moonlight, exuding an air of mystery and allure.

Tang Huai felt like he had stepped into a fairy tale, half-wondering if there might be a sleeping beauty inside, or perhaps a noble prince cursed into the form of a beast by a witch.

Amused by his own imagination, Tang Huai chuckled. He stepped forward and gently pushed open the castle gates.

Between the archway and the castle was a 50-meter-long ice walkway. On either side of the path were “flower fields” filled with tiny crystalline ice flowers. The castle itself stood like a sentinel in a sea of ice and snow.

Tang Huai proceeded forward.

The Ice Snow Castle had a strong medieval European vibe. Although it wasn’t particularly large—likely because it was a basic-level castle—it was exquisitely designed. The main gate was adorned with tulip-like symbols. Tang Huai touched the gate, feeling its cool surface, before pushing it open.

Inside, the castle was just as beautiful as the exterior. Ice staircases, ice chandeliers, ice murals—everything was crafted from the same pale ice.

The interior followed traditional European castle design principles. It was divided into three floors: the first floor was a grand hall, decorated with numerous ice flower displays. The second floor contained several rooms for the owner, with nearly ten rooms of various sizes. Tang Huai checked one of them—it was fully furnished with an ice bed and dining table. If some visitors were brave enough to withstand the cold, it could even be turned into a unique accommodation experience in the future.

After wandering around the second floor, Tang Huai moved on to the third floor, which was a large study.

The study was filled with books of various genres and eras, including The History of Roman Architecture, European Poetry and Essays, and Five Thousand Years of Chinese History. The collection was extensive, resembling a small library, with over 100,000 books, all in physical form, giving a sense of history and depth.

What surprised Tang Huai was that all these books were actual paper editions, not digital ones, adding to the historical atmosphere. The sheer quantity made it feel like a small-scale library.

After leaving the study, Tang Huai noticed a staircase on the southern side, about two meters wide, leading up to the very top of the castle’s tower. He climbed the stairs and emerged onto a small terrace, about five square meters in size.

Tang Huai stepped onto the terrace, standing at the peak of the snow-capped mountain. From here, he could see snow-covered peaks in every direction, with the entire castle and its surroundings laid out beneath him. Tang Huai felt as though he had captured the essence of the snow-covered landscape.

The only regret was that the sixth snow mountain was not the highest point in the area. He couldn’t help but imagine how breathtaking it would be to have a castle on the highest peak in Snowland. Tang Huai made a mental note: if he ever obtained a higher-level castle card, he would build another ice castle on the tallest mountain.

After exploring the Ice Snow Castle, Tang Huai headed to the northern side of the castle, where there was a 100-square-meter open space connected to a cliff edge. Standing at the edge of the snow mountain, he looked down. Although 100 meters wasn’t incredibly high, the view was still quite dramatic from that height.

Satisfied with the terrain, Tang Huai pulled out the card labeled Swing in the Wind.

The Swing in the Wind card was a game card and could be used in any location. The open space was closely linked to the castle, making it a perfect spot to place the swing.

He envisioned how, after wandering through the castle, visitors could relax on the swing, enjoying the breathtaking views of the surrounding Snowland. It seemed like the perfect serene and cozy activity.

With that thought, Tang Huai wasted no time and clicked the “Use” option on the back of the card.

“Ding, Swing in the Wind, a thrilling project, safety management activated. Enjoy your game, host!” The system notification rang out as Tang Huai activated the card.

Tang Huai: …

The moment he heard the words “safety management,” Tang Huai had a sinking feeling that something was off.

Just as he was about to ask a question, the open space began to make loud clanking sounds. Before he knew it, a massive crystal swing frame rose from the ground.

The entire swing frame was over 50 meters tall, transparent and sparkling, made from the same material as the crystal bridge. Hanging from both sides of the swing frame were long rubber ropes, attached to a wooden seat. The seat was engraved with seven large characters: Swing in the Wind.

On the lower right corner of the swing seat was an automatic mechanism, meaning visitors wouldn’t have to push the swing themselves; it could be activated with a single button.

The swing was equipped with safety harnesses and other precautionary measures, with the system providing safety assurances. There was no need to worry about the swing’s security, but with a height of over 50 meters, Tang Huai didn’t feel brave enough to try it just yet.

In his mind, he had pictured the swing as something more charming, like those crafted with floral decorations often found in cafés or parks—something cozy, feminine, and inviting.

Compared to that vision, the swing in front of him was not just a swing—it was an adrenaline-pumping ride.

He estimated that the swing frame was as tall as the castle, the equivalent of a 16-story building…

The swing frame was horizontally placed, with the ice castle on the left. The swing could move back and forth without being obstructed by the terrain. After circling the open area to take it all in, Tang Huai decided to leave.

The crystal bridge, the ice walkway, the Swing in the Wind—each attraction seemed more dangerous than the last. Snow Village shouldn’t be called “Snow Village Scenic Area,” it should be renamed “Snow Village Extreme Adventure Park.”

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Tang Huai began his descent. As he left, the shadow of the Ice Snow Castle grew smaller and smaller in the distance. The return down the ice walkway was just as challenging as the ascent, and it took him another half hour to reach the base of the mountain.

Tang Huai walked near the crystal bridge and let out a long breath. No matter what, Snow Village Scenic Area finally had its attractions.

After resting for a bit, he pulled out the remaining cards. At this moment, he held ten Snow Village Snow Cabins, ten Snowmobiles, and one hundred pairs of Ice Lake Skates. These were the recreational activities for Snow Village Scenic Area. Surveying the surroundings, Tang Huai placed these cards at the foot of Mountain No. 1.

The Snow Village Snow Cabins popped up one by one, like mushrooms sprouting from the ground.

The snowmobiles and skates were neatly arranged next to the cabins. Tang Huai walked over to the nearest snow cabin. Each cabin was about fifty square meters, and from the outside, they resembled Mongolian yurts, entirely built out of snow. Inside, there were snow beds, snow tables, and a wash basin—a true snow cabin.

Tang Huai knocked on the snow bed, and perhaps due to his special constitution, he didn’t feel particularly cold.

Everything in the snow cabin was built from snow. Tang Huai couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if hot water was poured inside—would the cabin melt? Realizing his thoughts were drifting, he stepped out of the Snow Village Snow Cabin and pulled out the final system card: Snow Village Manager.

Tang Huai clicked to use the card.

In front of him appeared a middle-aged German man, about forty years old. This was a non-intelligent AI, with the words “Snow Village Manager” written on the card, and no further details. After thinking for a moment, Tang Huai named him “Da De.”

Da De would be responsible for managing Snow Village.

Tang Huai still had 200,000 reputation points left. After some consideration, he decided to purchase two more non-intelligent AIs. Both were service-oriented, with one staying at Snow Village and the other returning with him to the treehouse.

These two AIs had Chinese appearances, and Tang Huai named them Zhang Long and Zhao Hu, for ease of remembrance.

Zhang Long and Zhao Hu were responsible for cleaning, managing fees, and other service-related tasks in their respective areas. Due to their different roles, Da De had a more serious expression, while Zhang Long and Zhao Hu appeared more approachable.

After purchasing Zhang Long and Zhao Hu, Tang Huai’s island and reputation points were entirely depleted.

Wealth and poverty were just a night’s difference—everything had to start from scratch again.

Having taken care of everything, it was already four in the morning. Tang Huai crossed the crystal bridge, found his bike, and headed back to Blue Sea Treehouse.

After a quick wash, Tang Huai collapsed into bed and quickly fell asleep, exhausted from the long day.

A peaceful night followed.

…

“Susie, have you seen my comb?”

“No… damn it! I left my sunscreen on the ship.”

“I forgot my underwear. Ugh, why didn’t I bring more stuff yesterday?”

…

The next morning, Tang Huai was woken up by a flurry of female voices. He checked the time—it was half-past eight, and he had only slept for two and a half hours.

Tang Huai quickly freshened up and stepped out of the treehouse. By then, the students from Ace High School were already dressed and waiting by Blue Sea Lake. They had been informed by Tolke that they would be visiting Snow Village Scenic Area today.

Most of the students were excited, but a few girls were frantically searching for missing cosmetics. They had assumed they’d only be staying on Sora Island for one day, so they hadn’t brought many personal items. Now, they were filled with regret—they wished they had brought their suitcases yesterday!

“Mr. Tang, can we leave now?”

The students had borrowed items from one another and finally packed up. After doing a headcount, Tolke walked over to Tang Huai to inquire. It wasn’t just the students—Tolke himself was looking forward to the upcoming adventure.

“We’re ready,” Tang Huai said, biting into a piece of bread. Despite the short sleep, his youth helped him handle the exhaustion fairly well.

“Everyone, follow me,” Tolke clapped his hands and addressed the students. With Tang Huai and Tolke leading the way, the group set off toward Snow Village Scenic Area.

“Are we cycling or running?” Half an hour later, they were standing by the Blue Sea–Snow Village road, unsure of what to do. There were only ten bikes, and fifty-two people in total—clearly not enough.

“Mr. Tang, do you have any other transport options, like a sightseeing vehicle?” Torlk asked, still holding on to hope.

“Sorry,” Tang Huai responded with a regretful expression. He hadn’t anticipated such a large group arriving yesterday, so he hadn’t prepared additional transportation.

And so, they divided the resources among themselves. They decided to alternate between running and cycling. The bikes were reserved for the weaker girls, and if anyone became too tired, they would rotate in.

Tang Huai, being fit and strong, didn’t compete with the girls for the bicycles. As for Tolke, who was fifty-three years old, his body wasn’t as young as it used to be, but he could still manage a fifty-kilometer run.

After a brief rest, the group continued towards Snow Village.

They had set off at nine in the morning, expecting to complete the journey in three hours, but due to varying levels of stamina, the fifty-kilometer trek took them five hours.

“Tang, I really need to start exercising,” Tolke said, panting heavily after they finally reached Area 15. He had struggled halfway through the journey and only made it with the help of a bicycle. His physical condition was even worse than some of the more delicate female students.

Tang Huai didn’t say anything, just gave Tolke a pat on the shoulder to encourage him.

…

“Snow? There’s actual snow here!”

“This is amazing! It’s not just one mountain, but a whole range of snow mountains!”

“Where’s my phone? I need to take pictures! I must capture this beautiful scenery.”

While Tang Huai and Tolke were talking, they heard the students exclaiming in awe up ahead. As Tang Huai and Tolke arrived at the destination, the other students followed closely behind.

“This is God’s masterpiece,” someone murmured as they stood before the crystal bridge, stunned by the magnificent snow-covered landscape. The scene before them was even grander than they had imagined. As they gazed upon the snow-capped mountains, the sound of phone cameras snapping pictures filled the air.

At that moment, nobody was thinking about becoming social media influencers. They just wanted to capture the breathtaking beauty in front of them.

“There are down jackets here. Let’s put on some gear, and once we cross this crystal bridge, we’ll be in Snow Village,” Tang Huai said, breaking the silence as he pointed to the winter gear nearby.

On the west side of the crystal bridge, there was a small snow cabinet stocked with over fifty sets of down jackets, snow boots, and other gear. The snow cabinet blended in with the surrounding snow, making it easy to overlook if not specifically pointed out.

Everyone began putting on the gear.

“Tang, what’s the story behind all of this?” Tolke asked, as usual.

“It’s an investment by FillTech Corporation…” Tang Huai explained briefly, using the FillTech Corporation backstory he had created.

Tolke and the students didn’t fully grasp the explanation, but they didn’t press further. They were here to relax and enjoy the trip. After taking their photos, and realizing the bridge in front of them was made of ice, they cautiously stepped onto it.

After a moment of adjustment, they continued crossing the crystal bridge. Some of the more timid girls hesitated, afraid to move forward, but they didn’t want to miss out on seeing what lay beyond the bridge. Not wanting to regret staying behind, they closed their eyes and let their friends lead them across, step by step.

Tang Huai stood at the back, snapping a couple of pictures with his phone.

Now that the reputation system was unlocked, Tang Huai planned to launch Sora Island’s official Weibo and Twitter accounts once things were settled. With the one-to-one ratio between reputation points and island value, he knew he had to take this seriously.

…

“Why are there ten white mushrooms here?”

“Are these snow cabins? Oh my God, I feel like I’m in the Arctic!”

“So much snow! And there’s snowmobiles here too? Hmm, 20 dollars for fifteen minutes—seems fair.”

Once they crossed the crystal bridge and set foot in Snow Village, the students scattered like wild horses, excited to explore. Most of them were local residents from Massachusetts. While winters in Massachusetts brought snow, the snow here was entirely different.

There were no asphalt roads, no plazas, no villas—it was like a pure, untouched snow-covered world. The students fell in love with it at first sight.

They started exploring in all directions. Both the snow cabins and the snowmobiles were paid activities.

• Snow Cabins: $200 per night
• Snowmobiles: $20 for 15 minutes
• Ice Lake Skating: $20 for half an hour

Tang Huai had set these prices himself, as he owned these items and had complete control over the rates. His pricing wasn’t too high. Aside from the snow cabins, the other two activities had a high turnover, so even in one day, it could bring in a decent income.

Some adventurous boys rented snowmobiles from Da De, while others gathered around the ice lake, observing. The ice on the lake was half a meter thick, and the so-called Ice Lake Skating involved gliding freely on the ice with skates.

Some were unsure about the safety of the ice lake and stood back, watching. However, a few bold visitors had already started having fun on the ice.

“Mr. Tang, where is the Ice Castle?” Three girls ran over to Tang Huai as he strolled around the area near the crystal bridge with Tolke.

Earlier, Tang Huai had briefly introduced the features of Snow Village. While the boys enjoyed the snowmobiles and skating, the girls were more interested in the Ice Castle. After searching for a while, they couldn’t find it.

“It’s on the southern side of the mountain,” Tang Huai pointed toward the southern slope of the snow mountain. More girls soon joined, surrounding Tang Huai, while the boys also glanced over curiously.

Tang Huai whispered a quick explanation to Tolke.

“Everyone, take a quick break. We’ll head to the Ice Castle shortly, Tolke clapped his hands and announced loudly.

“Wow!” the students cheered excitedly.

“That’s awesome!”

After a brief rest, Tang Huai, Tolke, and the students headed toward the Ice Castle. With the direction now clear, many students rushed ahead of Tang Huai and Tolke.

Tang Huai smiled. Snow Village had never been this lively before.

“Is this really it? No way…”

“Oh my god, how are we supposed to climb up there?”

…

Ten minutes later, the group arrived at the base of the sixth snow mountain, staring up at the winding and treacherous ice path. They exchanged uncertain looks.

The ice path was made of the same material as the crystal bridge. Just walking across the bridge earlier had left them feeling a bit uneasy, afraid they might fall into the ice lake below. Now, the ice path seemed to hang on the side of the mountain, almost like a stairway to the sky.

Tang Huai rubbed his nose, knowing that the path looked even more perilous in daylight than it had at night.

Snow Village had truly transformed into a “Snow Village Adventure Park.”

☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️