Ch 172: The World’s Number One Resort

“Row 21… quite a lot of people here. I wonder if we’ll be able to see the opening performance clearly.”

“In a venue that seats 100,000, it’s all about the atmosphere. Who cares about the performance itself?”

Gao Jian and Dong Chun found their seats. Although they were in the 21st row, the Great Tang venue was so vast and spacious that their visibility was excellent.

“These seats are so comfortable! Great Tang quality, truly exceptional.”

Dong Chun recorded three short videos, then turned his attention to the seating. The chairs were made of a material similar to those used in luxury racing cars—breathable and refreshing. Each chair had a small pillow attached to the back. Dong Chun closed his eyes and leaned back for a moment, finding the experience more comfortable than his 30,000-yuan massage chair at home.

Quality is seen in the details. Even before the performance started, the arrangement of the Great Tang venue was undeniably world-class and professional.

Time passed, and half an hour later, the venue doors closed, and a ceiling with flowing colors slowly descended from all sides.

The entire ceiling reflected a blend of transparency and shifting colors. Sunlight poured in from above, causing the ceiling to shimmer even more. Thanks to FillTech Corporation, the glow wasn’t blindingly intense but instead gave off a refreshing and delightful feeling.

Dong Chun snapped photos continuously, feeling like his phone’s memory might soon run out.

As the clock struck 8:00 PM, a melodious piano tune began to play, and the flowing colors of the venue transformed into a serene forest scene. From a distance, it looked like a real mountain forest.

“Welcome to the 22nd Global Environmental Conference. I am your host, Garrett. The global conference was established in XXXX, with the first session held in Sydney, and it has a history of 45 years…”

Amidst the bustling crowd, a man in his seventies slowly rose from the center of the stage. The entire stage spanned about 5,000 square meters, with a suspended visual screen behind it. Although those seated farther back had initially worried about their view, all concerns vanished the moment the elderly man appeared.

The visual screen’s clarity was astonishingly sharp and bright. Additionally, each seat was equipped with VR glasses, allowing attendees to adjust their viewing angle with ease. This was a true technological breakthrough.

“And now, please welcome the conference chairman, Mr. Steven…” Garrett continued. Garrett, who had won the Oscar for Best Actor five times, had devoted himself to global environmental causes after retiring from acting, earning respect from fans worldwide.

After Garrett’s introduction, Steven took the stage.

“Many thanks to Great Tang Resort for hosting this event… Now, let’s welcome China to present the grand opening performance, ‘Dunhuang.'” Following the script, Steven completed the opening remarks.

As this year’s conference was hosted by Great Tang, the tradition was for the host country to perform first. Since Great Tang wasn’t a country per se, it was decided after much discussion that China would lead the opening performance.

This was a request strongly advocated by Tang Huai.

Great Tang could have arranged its own performance, but that would be seen as stealing the spotlight. Since Great Tang had already secured the hosting rights, there was no need to claim more attention.

“Ta-da-ta-da, ta—”

As Steven finished speaking, a crisp sound of the Qiang flute filled the air. Immediately, the surrounding scene shifted, transforming the serene forest into a richly historical Dunhuang backdrop. A group of women dressed in yellow silk robes, adorned with intricate headdresses and holding pipa instruments, gracefully descended from the sky.

The women’s movements were enchanting, and with the sound of the flute as the backdrop, they appeared as if they could take flight at any moment.

“Dunhuang’s Flying Apsaras…” At the sight of the celestial dancers, the entire venue fell silent. Then, countless shutters clicked. Thanks to the stage’s technology, conversations and camera clicks in the venue did not affect the performance.

The audience was amazed by the performance of the Chinese Art Troupe.

At that moment, the surrounding scenery and sky were filled with Dunhuang murals, creating a strong three-dimensional effect. Combined with the troupe’s exquisite flying dance performance, everyone felt as if they had traveled back in time.

“This is a leap in stage art.”

“Thank you, Great Tang. I have witnessed the most exquisite flying performance…”

The venue was buzzing with discussion, and the audience in front of their TVs was equally stunned into silence. China, an ancient civilization, had long been associated with images of long braids or elegant Tang attire. However, the scene on TV now gave them an entirely new and magical impression.

It was a fusion of the ancient and the mysterious.

With Great Tang’s strong technological background, the Dunhuang scene captivated the viewers, making them eager to witness more spectacular performances.

The global conference featured participants from 122 countries and was broadcasted live by 372 television stations. Within the first half-hour of the opening ceremony, it achieved a 5.5% global viewership, a number that continued to rise steadily.

“Clap, clap, clap!”

Ten minutes later, the performance concluded. Enhanced by Great Tang’s special effects, the Chinese Art Troupe seemed to fly away like celestial beings. As the scene reverted to the forest, a wave of enthusiastic applause filled the venue.

“Now, let’s welcome the American Art Troupe with their percussion dance, ‘Hero.'” With the Chinese Art Troupe exiting, the American Art Troupe took the stage.

They performed a modern percussion dance. The surrounding three-dimensional scenery shifted, making the audience feel as if they were in the vast expanse of the universe.

From the Indian desert to medieval England, to the romantic beaches of France… the art troupes that made it to the global opening ceremony were the best from each country. Accompanied by Great Tang’s special effects, the audience was left in awe.

The entire opening ceremony was flawless, a feast of beauty and art.

“And now, with these stunning performances concluded, the Global Environmental Conference officially begins!” Five hours later, as the audience was still immersed in the aftermath of the global performances, Garrod waved on stage.

At his cue, the audience stood up. Then, the walls and roof around them retracted, and the seats sank into the ground. Like a transforming toy, the entire venue turned into a flat space.

The audience looked around, bewildered.

“Boom—” Before they could react, a rumbling sound came from below as numerous thick walls emerged from the ground.

Under the guidance of the staff, the visitors moved to a safe area.

The changes continued.

Five minutes later, the scene settled, and the surroundings transformed from the global venue into the Sky Castle.

Dong Chun was left in a daze. He and Gao Jian now stood on the commercial avenue of the Sky Castle. The chairs had been replaced by a cobblestone road.

Around them, other tourists were equally stunned.

“Incredible! It’s hollow inside!”

Dong Chun squatted down and tapped on the ground. The surface made a “thud-thud” sound, indicating that it was indeed hollow. This meant that the chairs and the ground had been moved below. Moving such a large structure around… it was magical.

The entire Sky Island could float in mid-air. It wasn’t impossible for the island’s buildings to have some mechanical tricks.

All of a sudden, Dong Chun felt a deep envy for the staff working at Great Tang Resort.

Relaxed work, great environment, excellent benefits—it’s the perfect workplace!

“Enjoy your journey.”

As the tourists chatted happily, Garrett’s cheerful voice echoed from above. This was the Sky Forest’s broadcast system, and now that the Sky Castle had emerged, it marked the official start of the global conference.

The global conference would last three months, from March 10th to June 10th.

During the global conference, Great Tang waived the admission fee as a special benefit.

It was now 2 PM, and as the event ended, some tourists stayed near the castle to explore, while others headed to the Underwater Ancient City or Bianjing Ancient City. There were so many things to do at Great Tang Resort, and with delicious food in tow, it was the most splendid spring vacation!

…

“We sincerely thank Mr. Tang Huai for his sponsorship and support of the global conference…”

While tourists were having a blast at Great Tang, in the main banquet hall of the Sky Castle, Tang Huai exchanged pleasantries with representatives from various countries, signaling the start of the global meeting.

The global conference focused on “global environmental protection,” and the necessary meetings were an essential part. Thus, in the following week, while tourists enjoyed their time at Great Tang Resort, Tang Huai and the official delegations from different countries delved into discussions on global environmental protection and climate issues.

Time passed in a tense yet busy manner.

A week later, the global conference came to a temporary halt, allowing Tang Huai to take a brief break.

Tang Huai strolled around Sora Town before returning to the Island Master’s courtyard. With the island’s growing population, the courtyard had undergone reconstruction. The courtyard-office building area had now become the official zone of Great Tang Resort, strictly off-limits to anyone without an appointment.

This wasn’t Tang Huai trying to put on airs; rather, the fame of Great Tang had grown so much that a constant stream of media and fans wandered around the office building every day, forcing Great Tang to implement such measures.

After freshening up, Tang Huai opened the task panel.

Host Name: Tang Huai

Open Areas: Sky Forest, Sora Underground City, Underwater Ancient City…

Current Task: [Jubilant Celebration]. During the task period, total visitors must reach 50 million, with a satisfaction rate of 80%.

Task Progress: 82%

Main Island Master Task Progress: 87%.

After over three months of construction, Great Tang’s total visitor count had reached 82%. During the global conference, the daily visitor count was around 800,000, and with two months remaining, completing the [Jubilant Celebration] task was well within reach.

Tang Huai focused on the Main Island Master progress.

The ultimate goal of the Main Island Master task was to become the world’s number one. Now, three years had passed, and the task progress had reached 87%. At the current pace, he estimated all tasks would be completed by the end of the year.

In a daze, Tang Huai recalled when he was stranded on a deserted island three years ago. Time had flown by, and Great Tang was no longer what it used to be. He prepared to handle the next day’s work, but just as he finished writing a title, he glanced out the window with a trace of unease.

The moonlight was like a hook. It had been two months since Yu You left, and he wondered how Yu You and Da Zhuang were doing. However, with the vastness of the ocean and the presence of whale sharks and sea fish escorting them, Tang Huai wasn’t too worried about Yu You’s safety.

After a brief moment of distraction, Tang Huai continued with his work.

Everything was progressing in an orderly manner.

Inspecting the Great Tang attractions, establishing diplomatic relations with various countries, and resolving minor disputes among tourists—Tang Huai’s life in the days that followed was both monotonous and routine.

“They’re hosting a joint event with Great Tang domestically?” While Tang Huai was busy working, the South Korean delegation at the global conference was abuzz with excitement.

Currently, Great Tang had restricted flights to and from South Korea, so the South Korean official delegation had arrived on a domestic special plane. While they had access to transportation, ordinary South Korean citizens were not so fortunate. To reach Great Tang, they had to transfer via China or Singapore, wasting time and incurring additional costs.

Now, domestic opinions in South Korea were divided. One faction strongly demanded that Kim Sookhyun apologize and lift the flight restrictions, while the other fiercely boycotted Great Tang Resort. The situation was so chaotic that even if Kim Sookhyun wanted to apologize, it wouldn’t be easy.

Amidst the growing tension between Great Tang and South Korea, “Sookhyun midnight” suffered a severe decline in viewership. It was clear that this whole issue could have been avoided; the trouble in the live show seemed entirely self-inflicted.

The head of the South Korean delegation for this global conference was Diplomatic Secretary Han Seung-bin.

Han Seung-bin finished reading the domestic report and felt a headache coming on.

According to incomplete statistics, about 30,000 South Korean tourists had visited Great Tang this time, and there were 230,000 prospective tourists online. The South Korean public was highly curious about Great Tang Resort, and as the opening ceremony concluded, the number of curious visitors only increased.

Based on intuition, it seemed that those opposing trips to Great Tang were losing ground to the supporters.

“Just focus on the global conference, and don’t worry about other matters.” Han Seung-bin closed the report, feeling helpless.

The official South Korean delegation could only keep a low profile during this period, sticking strictly to discussions about environmental protection and nothing else.

While the South Korean delegation was in a state of disarray, the situation was different for Hawaii, which was unaffected. Having signed an unequal treaty, Hawaii’s only option was to continue building diplomatic relations with Great Tang. Of course, if they could attract more Chinese tourists, that would be even better.

Every country had its own agenda.

After a brief period of adjustment, Great Tang navigated smoothly among various countries.

As the number of tourists increased, Tang Huai’s task progress also steadily improved.

…

“Congratulations to the host on completing [Jubilant Celebration]. Rewards: [Enhanced Transparent Shark], [Area Upgrade Card] x3, [Underwater Ancient Vehicle].”

[Enhanced Transparent Shark]: Personal skill. The Transparent Shark has been upgraded and can now be used throughout all sea regions.

[Area Upgrade Card]: Limited to primary areas, upgrades scenic areas.

[Underwater Ancient Vehicle]: A diving-type transportation tool usable in all sea regions.

In early May, the task interface finally refreshed. Tang Huai browsed through the new information, slightly surprised. Apart from the [Area Upgrade Card], the remaining two items could be used in all sea regions.

All Sea Regions Defined: Not limited to the Pacific Ocean. They can be used in the Indian Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and more.

Tang Huai put the cards away. Taking such a big step forward, it seemed certain that he was now the “Main Island Master.”

Tang Huai opened the main task progress.

Main Island Master Progress: 92%.

The Main Island Master progress, along with island value, reputation value, and other metrics, had seen a significant leap now that the global conference was nearing its end.

“FD730, what will happen once the task is completed?” Tang Huai suddenly thought of this as he was about to rest.

When the agreement was first signed, FD730 mentioned that it would leave Earth upon task completion. Now that only 8% remained, even though FD730 was a bit rigid, they had developed a certain friendship over the past three years.

“As per the agreement, the system’s contract remains unchanged. I will leave using the FillTech Aircraft,” FD730 replied meticulously.

Now that Great Tang Resort had grown into a huge operation, Tang Huai would continue to enjoy FillTech’s technology as agreed, while FD730 would proceed to FillStar Planet as per its program.

Tang Huai felt a bit saddened.

“Only 8% left, host. Keep it up,” FD730 added, sounding slightly more cheerful than before.

Tang Huai: …

No more feeling sad.

After reviewing the task details and making a simple plan, Tang Huai turned off the lights and went to sleep.

No matter what, the task requirements had to be completed. Tang Huai looked forward to the results when the Main Island Master task was accomplished.

…

“Tang!” The next morning, Tang Huai arrived at the Sora office early. As he approached the office building, a clear female voice called out from behind.

The person had a high nose bridge and deep-set eyes—it was Amanda Cruz, with whom he had previously collaborated. Amanda was dressed in casual attire, and beside her stood a tall, handsome man in sportswear. The man was none other than the Middle Eastern businessman, Nasser.

Amanda and Nasser had announced their relationship in Great Tang last year. One was a celebrity often caught up in scandals, while the other was a Middle Eastern tycoon. Onlookers had assumed it was a fleeting romance, but surprisingly, they made it through Thanksgiving and Christmas. Judging by their demeanor now, their relationship remained strong.

“Hello.” After a quick assessment, Tang Huai greeted them warmly and shook hands.

Amanda beamed with joy.

“You’re getting married?” Half an hour later, the three of them sat in the Great Tang office, and Tang Huai understood the purpose of Amanda’s visit.

Amanda and Nasser had overcome numerous obstacles and decided to marry. The intended venue for their wedding was Great Tang.

“We plan to hold the wedding on the 30th. Tang, Nasser and I met here in Great Tang, and this place holds a special significance for us. I sincerely hope Great Tang will agree to host our wedding…” Amanda nodded as Tang Huai spoke.

This was the place where they fell in love, and Amanda was very fond of Great Tang.

Great Tang had never hosted a wedding before. A year ago, Amanda might have used her influence to pressure Great Tang into agreeing. However, after over a year of development, Great Tang had become a premier resort destination. Amanda didn’t want to use her influence; she wanted Great Tang’s genuine blessing.

With a hopeful look, Amanda gazed at Tang Huai. Nasser also handed over a document from his assistant—this was their wedding plan. It included detailed wedding arrangements, and Nasser was prepared to pay Great Tang a hefty venue rental fee.

It was an astronomical rental fee.

“It would be our pleasure.”

Tang Huai finished reading the wedding plan and agreed decisively. Putting aside the astronomical rental fee, Amanda’s straightforward personality and their pleasant past cooperation, coupled with her popularity, made this wedding nothing but beneficial in every aspect.

“Oh my God, thank you, Great Tang!” As soon as Tang Huai finished speaking, Amanda jumped up excitedly.

With more than half a month left until the wedding, Tang Huai could feel the couple’s joy.

Author’s Note: (:з」∠) We’re reaching the end of the story. I’ve been thinking about how to wrap it up these past few days. Writing strictly according to the timeline feels too dry and awkward, so I’ll finish the main story tomorrow. After that, there will be a lot of extras, which might include things like [South Korea Without Great Tang], [Alang CP], [Song Qing CP Exploring Great Tang], [Daily Life of Great Tang Tourists], [New Projects at Great Tang], [Tang Huai’s Love Life], [Aunt Miley’s Gossip], [Xie Yunshu], and more. Everything will be addressed in due time~ This is like a segmented conclusion. Love to you all~

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