058: Lucky or Unlucky

"Crack—"

The first Lucky Item Box opened, and a faint, woody fragrance wafted from within.

Inside the red, floral-like foamed wood, several cards were nestled.

Tang Jian quickly pulled out the foamed wood and carefully examined each card.

The first card—its surface was grayish-black, adorned with intricate, silver, spiderweb-like lines.

However, these fine lines abruptly stopped less than a quarter of the way across the card face, with the trailing end cutting diagonally to another corner. It looked very odd, clearly a Scrap Card that had failed during production.

"This texture must be from a Ferocious Bear's bone, and the silver Energy Ink probably has Purple Lightning Bird blood mixed in. The Energy Ink itself is at least green quality… This was likely meant to be a shapeshifting bear card for a combat-oriented druid series, but it failed."

Tang Jian only observed the first card for a moment before discerning its general information as a Scrap Card.

Such a Scrap Card was useless in its current state, but the card face made from Grizzly Bear bone still held some value. After washing off the Energy Ink with green quality Rare Energy Water, it could be reused. Its value would be about 30-40% of the market price, roughly three to four thousand Federal Currency.

"Lady Luck is smiling upon me," Tang Jian muttered, a slight smirk playing on his lips, quoting a Card Master's line.

A good start.

For the first Scrap Card to have such value was quite good.

Today, he would be blessed by good fortune.

He continued to pull out cards one by one, trying to suppress his urgent desire to find the Demi-human Beauty Card, reminding himself to remain calm, composed, and patient, not like a restless child.

Three minutes passed.

Tang Jian's expression gradually turned serious, a hint of disappointment and frustration in his eyes.

Another two minutes passed.

All hundred cards had been examined. Besides the first shapeshifting bear Scrap Card, which was worth some money, the other ninety-nine cards were either one or two-star white quality cards, or entirely Scrap Cards. Even after washing off the Scrap Cards to sell the materials, they would only fetch a maximum of one to two thousand Federal Currency.

"I spent forty thousand Federal Currency on this box of one hundred Lucky Item Boxes. Including the three white one- or two-star cards, it's worth about four to five thousand. Plus the Scrap Card materials, which are worth five to six thousand. At most, I'll get back just over ten thousand. I've lost a fortune."

"Is today not my lucky day?"

Tang Jian shook his head. It would be a lie to say he wasn't disappointed. Who doesn't harbor unrealistic dreams of striking it rich?

But even though he was disappointed now, his mindset remained stable.

"It seems the Demi-human Beauty Card isn't in this box."

Tang Jian looked at the other three boxes.

He had initially thought the Lucky Item Box containing a hundred cards would be the most likely to have the Demi-human Beauty Card.

Now, it seemed that was completely wishful thinking.

Of the other three Lucky Item Boxes, two felt familiar to Tang Jian. The purple lingerie patterns on them were similar to "ζ" and "ξ" styles, not much different from the hundred-card Lucky Item Box.

As for the last Lucky Item Box, which was part of a bundled purchase and contained five cards, its lingerie pattern was "". Tang Jian found this box very unfamiliar; he hadn't even planned to buy it, considering it just an extra.

If the first, largest Lucky Item Box didn't contain the Demi-human Beauty, then that card must definitely be in the other two boxes.

Tang Jian had a hunch the card was definitely in one of the boxes.

Because these three boxes were all familiar to him.

Since the Green Fox Card Exchange actually had these styles of Lucky Boxes, then He Xun's experience in his previous life was likely true, not just a shill hired by the exchange.

He quickly opened the second Lucky Item Box, which contained twenty cards.

He frantically tore it open to look. Now, he didn't care about being composed or reckless anymore. The flag he'd just set was instantly thrown to the back of his mind. Tang Jian's urgency could no longer be suppressed.

He quickly scanned the twenty cards.

Tang Jian's expression first showed profound disappointment, but then a slight hint of joy.

This Lucky Item Box still didn't contain the Demi-human Beauty Card, which initially made Tang Jian a bit anxious. However, luckily, it did contain a green card radiating a lustrous green glow, seemingly a mechanical card, which uplifted his mood slightly.

But he still set the green card aside for now and immediately opened the last box he was optimistic about, which contained five cards.

After the box opened, Tang Jian's hands almost trembled. He fumbled to pull out the five cards, his gaze sweeping over them quickly!

"Damn it!"

Tang Jian's face instantly fell. He nearly threw all the cards in his hand, his brows furrowed deeply.

Composure? What composure!

He was utterly unlucky.

"What's going on? Was He Xun really a scammer? None of the three boxes have the Demi-human Beauty Card!"

Tang Jian felt like his mind was about to explode.

In the face of a super-strong, growth-type pet card, even a Three-Star Card Master's composure would waver.

The value of such a card was immeasurable. Although its rank was extremely low, the materials for crafting the initial card were incredibly expensive. Some materials were almost unheard of on Earth. Even thirty million Federal Currency would barely buy them. They were like "pay-to-win equipment" only the wealthy could afford.

What did thirty million Federal Currency even mean?

Even in his previous life, Tang Jian had worked tirelessly, expending a significant amount of resources to become a Three-Star Card Master. The total resources he spent were estimated to be just over forty million Federal Currency, and that was after several trips into the Celestial Pit, almost risking his life to earn those resources.

He had thought such a precious item was within his grasp, but reality had slapped him hard.

Tang Jian was a little dumbfounded at this point, his heart aching as his thoughts raced, trying to figure out if He Xun was too much of a scammer or if something had gone wrong.

"Impossible. Given He Xun's family background and personality, if he really pulled a card from the exchange, and they paid him to promote it, he might agree. But for him to act as a shill, promoting groundless rumors, He Xun wouldn't likely agree."

Tang Jian calmed himself, feeling he might have been too hasty.

In his previous life, He Xun had pulled the Demi-human Beauty Girl sometime before Tang Jian started university.

That period was either after or shortly before the college entrance exams, so perhaps it was still a bit too early now.

The Green Fox Card Exchange restocks new Lucky Item Boxes in its store periodically. Perhaps there would be similar purple lingerie Lucky Boxes later. The Demi-human Beauty Card wasn't nonexistent; it just hadn't appeared yet.

Of course, this was just wishful thinking.

Maybe this card truly wasn't pulled from a Lucky Item Box, and it was all a scam.

Tang Jian gave a bitter laugh, feeling like he was now a gambler who kept buying lottery tickets and losing, yet desperately wanted to win, constantly reassuring himself that he'd definitely win next time, spouting nonsense like, "It's not that I won't win, it's just that the time isn't right."

"My mindset... After being reborn, it seems not only has my strength weakened, but my state of mind is also getting worse. What I gain is my fortune, what I lose is my fate. I already possess a mysterious Red Card, why am I still craving so much? Humans truly are greedy."

Tang Jian reflected on himself, but after stabilizing his mindset, he didn't completely give up. His gaze fell on the last, less-favored box, and he casually opened it.

The Little Sunflower Classroom is now in session!

What's in the last box? Do you want to know? Activate this [Recommendation Ticket Doubler Card]!

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