WunderPanda!
Jin had this inspiration ever since he used the broken theme park for the zombies" home instance. Every single monster loved the theme park (including Derpy before he was no longer allowed) despite its terrible working conditions.
Therefore, Jin decided to reward his monsters for their hard work (especially with the whole war) with a tremendous Service Instance to provide them with another place to rest, relax and enjoy. But as he was designing it, he suddenly thought why make it exclusive to his monsters?
Why not open it to the public as well?
This way, Jin could recuperate some losses from building this instance as well as ensure future profits if it turned out to be viable. His customers might even like meeting the monsters they fought in person and perhaps take pictures with them too.
Giving the monsters some fame and joy would definitely be an excellent way to foster a relations.h.i.+p between them and the cultivators. However, Jin felt that a need to cramp in a little more than usual for this particular service instance mainly because he was aware that only a fraction of his customer base used his other services instances on a regular basis. His primary source of income undoubtedly originated from his Dungeon Instances.
Jin had considered decreasing the prices of the service instances to induce more people to try it out and hopefully keep using them, but the System begged to differ otherwise. The price was meant to keep the service instance exclusive (except for Panda Muscles Instance) as the System did use top notch materials to create the particular instances (even though they were considered "sc.r.a.ps/trash" where it purchased them).
Jin thought that it was unusual for the System to disagree to something that could bring in more customers. He was even more surprised to learn that it did not mind the losses as it was thinking more of the long term where other wealthy cultivators, especially the higher grades, were to join Jin"s store.
"You sure we can even attract such people to our stores?" Jin once looked at the statistics of the customers who entered his store. They were mainly Grade 1"s and Grade 2"s. Only with time and persistent training from the cultivators who loved the place did their grades went up. That was evident with the Pandawans.
"About fifty percent or more high grade cultivators are wealthy enough to pay for such a price. In fact, every other world runs on the same principle. Wealth brings power. Power brings prestige. Prestige brings wealth. " The System stated blatantly.
"Right now, User has nothing in his name, but the System has the power to a.s.sist User to increase his prestige, thus bringing User more money. Other users will eventually notice your store. System recommends preparing some VIP features to make it even more expensive, as those people like to feel a cut above the rest." The System stated unwilling to compromise on the prices unless Jin could convince it.
For example, that 10% discount on the Emerald Mountain Hot Spring service instance was a decent move by Jin, though it had already touched on the System"s limit of what it would allow.
So in order not to compromise on quality and price, Jin decided to use another kind of business model and hence that became the perfect time to implement the theme park idea. They were going to sell them relatively cheap entry tickets and then burn the customer"s pocket linings with the rides and merchandise which were available in the theme park. Aside from that, it was not all the theme park could offer.
WunderPanda was not going to be just an ordinary theme park but a theme park c.u.m Cultivation Zoo.
Jin initially wanted to mix the live zoo animals and the theme park together but quickly realised that it would be better to give the zoo animals the feeling of a natural habitat which would make them happier. Happier and freer animals would enable them to portray their individual skills. Thus, while the instance right now was mainly about WunderPanda, Jin had placed the zoo right opposite of the theme park, so the cultivators have to make a choice which to visit in the future.
The idea of implementing a Cultivation Zoo Instance as a standalone service instance had been in his to do list, but because of the System"s constant reminders to visit Grandma Yuan, he got partially influenced by the System.
Thus, Jin decided to include the zoo portion as part of the theme park instance even though he had yet to contact Grandma Yuan"s a.s.sistant. He was planning to visit Grandma Yuan anyway and learn more about the Demon Exorcist matter. Therefore, he might as well discuss both issues at the same time. (True enough, the System now placed visiting Grandma Yuan as a priority task.)
On a separate note, Jin had already prepared a number of selected natural habitats for the animals to live in, especially a bamboo forest mountain habitat for the pandas. (His a.s.suming he would be getting one!) Jin could never forget the pandas he met in the zoo, especially Xin after forging that spiritual union. Though for now, a signpost and construction barriers was placed opposite the theme park entrance that stated the following: "Currently under construction. Opening soon in 1st quarter of the New Year!"
"This place is fantastic." Si Fang praised as he walked alongside the store owners to check out the WunderPanda theme park. The pathways were filled with both cultivators and even some of the monsters which he had seen advertised outside Jin"s store.
As expected by Jin, most of the cultivators initially thought that they were some NPC mascots which were masquerading as the monsters which they fought with like the werejackals. However when the monsters started commenting on the cultivators when they were taking pictures together, the cultivators realised that they were like the monsters they had fought.
Some of the monsters even remembered the cultivators that gave them a hard time and to the customers, they could not believe they are interacting with such a highly advanced AI for an NPC. (They would never guess that the monsters were real, but the more perceptive ones thought otherwise.)
Through further observations, the store owners realised that each ride had a theme corresponding to a type of monster previously encountered in the Dungeon Instances. Even the previous themed dungeons, the Halloween Instance and the Qixi Festival had their own attractions.
The Panda Mascots at the front of the theme park handed out a WunderPanda map brochure which showed all the currently available rides and every one of them was contemplating which one to try first. "There"s the Goblin Waterlog ride, going through the depths of the jungle and subsequently through a waterfall," Jin suggested as he pointed at the map and later raised his hand to show where the ride was. The store owners saw a cliff far ahead with a steep waterfall and people screaming their lungs out.
"It"s not a game station that can be used for training, but I a.s.sured you the view from the top, and the thrill you get is -Oh erm...Yea."Jin then stopped and realised that the middle aged adults might not necessarily want to take a thrilling ride.
"The Zither Mistress String Obstacle Course seems exciting judging by the description." He Rong said as he told the gang that it was more of a game to earn panda medals than a ride. The cultivators would have to try reaching the other end, a relatively short distance of around 400 metres in the shortest amount of time possible.
As a matter of course, there were a lot of obstacles placed in their way, and they needed to avoid every string created by the Zither Mistress, Ke Mi. The System had a.s.signed a clone to do the job, but Ke Mi was allowed to personally entertain them if she wished.
Since it was the first opening day of the Theme Park Instance, Ke Mi had decided to be on the set to experience it herself. Jin briefly told them that it was a timed race, and every string they got hit by would increase the timing by 5 seconds. As long as they stayed under a certain time limit, panda medals would be awarded making for a fun form of training too. If a team of people partic.i.p.ated, they could enter as a relay and possibly earn more panda medals as a group.
"What about this? Sakura Treant Climbing Challenge?" Si Fang asked, and Jin answered it was something similar to rock climbing but instead of a cliff, he had to climb up the Ancient Treant Shu and grab a prize ticket that was hanging off its branches.
"Technically, it does not matter how long you take, as long as you do not fall and trust me, Shu will definitely make things difficult. But there is also timer for the more compet.i.tive cultivators to have their names in the board of rankings." Jin said with confidence. He added that this was also a game and like the rest, it would cost five panda medals each round for the first three rounds of the day.
If they wished to retry more than three rounds, it would cost them more panda medals as a multiplier would be added into the cost, else they could alternatively spend some real cash for doing so (which was slightly expensive.) Now everyone understood why Jin had revamped the amount of panda medals given.
It was not just for new equipment but to spend for this theme park as well since there were rewards of three unique sets of cosmetic inscriptions that could be earnt by playing the games and rides here.
Jin purposely created the games to make training more exciting and fun, but for those hardcore trainees, the Panda Muscles instance was also available within the WunderPanda, and they did not have to pay a single cent extra. Some might think it"s a bargain, but the System and Jin knew it was just the illusion of choice.
If a gym goer wished to visit Panda Muscles, it was cheap enough for them to enter but if they thought entering the Theme Park while also enjoying Panda Muscles would be a better deal for their money, by all means. Jin would love to have more money in his pockets.
In fact, the Panda Muscles in the WunderPanda was designed to be outdoors, so the ones training were visible for others, which could result in some feeling motivated to join in. Even the System closed an eye over this situation despite its ironclad rule of needing to pay for every instance since the WunderPanda entry ticket was already an added barrier of entry which the cultivators foolishly paid for if their sole purpose was to enjoy both WunderPanda and Panda Muscles.
That way, it also made Panda Muscles instance livelier with the added crowd from the theme park instance, but Jin did not stop juicing people for their need for privacy. Cultivators who wished to have a quieter time, they could add half the price of the ticket to move to a quieter instance with fewer people or pay an additional cost of a ticket to get an instance with the entire gym all to themselves. To the System, it was merely mirroring the service as it has always done for other dungeon instances. Thus, it"s a quick buck for Jin.
"Let"s just try the Sakura Treant Climbing Challenge." Ke Ru and the rest of the store owners decided to go with Shen Si Fang"s decision since they had to start somewhere. Anyways, they had all the time in the world to try all the other rides later.
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"Eh yo Boss Jin, you know. I think it"s better we erm...try the Zither Mistress String Obstacle Race." Si Fang chickened out the moment he saw how large the Sakura tree was. Initially, he had no idea because it was out of his sight, and he thought that the brochure map was exaggerating the size of it through the pictures.
Si Fang was aware that some theme parks would try to entice people by enlarging certain rides on the map to make them stand out. That"s how he had felt until Jin led them to a place with a row of elevators being used near the edge of a cliff, though he did not go near the edge of the cliff. (Fun fact! The waterfall log ride was further up on another cliff higher than the one they were at.)
The moment they took the gla.s.s elevator, they saw the immersive view of a gigantic blooming tree filled with Sakura Blossoms and Shu"s petals were filling the air with its magnificent presence. With a glance, Si Fang could see that there were some cultivators trying out the Sakura Treant Climbing Challenge running up the tree trunk.
Unfortunately, it was not as easy as running up a plain smooth wall. The trunk grew branches to both a.s.sist the cultivators in climbing as well as hindering other cultivators by blocking their ascend. There were even times the lovely Sakura petals would fly like a razor towards the ascending cultivator without any hesitation.
A misstep would undoubtedly cause the cultivator to fall. If the cultivator were lucky enough, he would be able to grab on to Shu"s tree bark and suffer some sc.r.a.ps on his skin. If he wasn"t then, the cultivator immediately arrived at the bottom of the trunk where Pandas attendants wearing a magical cape as part of their attire stopped from the cultivators splatting into pieces with gravity magic. (Courtesy of Peppers!)
The Panda attendants with those magical capes called themselves the Wunder Pandits.
Some of the Wunder Pandits were even parodies of different superheroes. There was one with a giant "WP" on the middle of his chest, one with a belt full of gadgets, one with a giant s.h.i.+eld and many more flying around to a.s.sist with some of the rides which required more attendants. Jin wanted to make this place feel magical, and what could be more magical than flying pandas? He also reckoned it would be more efficient and cost effective compared to creating more NPCs. (Plus it"s more flashy too!)
The store owners reached the bottom of the trunk where there"s an ongoing queue and it was probably the only service instance where the cultivators had to wait a while for their turn. However, the line served another purpose.
Antic.i.p.ation and Anxiety.
Shen Si Fang was filled with the latter but with the addition of dread. If it"s not for his fellow friendly store owners" persistence, he would have returned home and enjoyed being lazy on his couch while watching TV.
"Nope, once you picked up that sword, you are bound to use again." Lai Fu chuckled with a sly smile.
"What did I get into…." Si Fang thought to himself as his friends literally dragged him into the queue.