A Random Master

In fact, not only was Tang Muzhou there in person, but the Judgment Guild had also received an order from Guild Leader Illusory Moon—no matter what, they had to win it.

While buyers from the major guilds privately consulted their guild leaders, the card's price rose to 120,000.

The guild leaders swiftly sent back instructions: "We don't lack this bit of money. Snatch it!" "If you can get it for under 500,000, do everything you can to take it!"

But some levelheaded guild leaders said, "This creator has only auctioned off the first one. They'll definitely sell in bulk later, so there's no need to be such a sucker. Let's wait and see with the first card."

The auction price was like a sports car with its pedal floored, racing wildly upward!

—150,000!

—180,000!

—200,000!

—250,000!

The audience was dumbstruck. How many people were fighting over this card?!

—300,000!

When the price reached this point, the Judgment Guild's buyer lost his nerve and privately messaged his guild leader in a trembling voice. "Boss, I think Fenghua Guild has made up its mind to get this card. Are we really going to compete? This price is already absurd!"

Illusory Moon frowned in thought. A major guild like Judgment did not lack 300,000 game coins. But if this continued, what if Fat Uncle realized that the cards he made could sell for such high prices and became unwilling to join the Judgment Club as a designer?

That was right! He was such an idiot! Why was he helping Fat Uncle drive up the price at the auction???

Realizing this, Illusory Moon immediately replied, "Stop bidding!"

Judgment stopped, but there were still some guilds that did not know the full story and wanted to obtain this Instant-Death Card designed to counter Tang Muzhou.

—350,000!

—400,000!

The auction house was completely set ablaze. Many audience members excitedly activated their recording systems and began livestreaming the fierce bidding war online. Countless netizens who could not enter the Auction House also opened the livestreams, thrilled to witness the historic moment when the price of a one-star card broke records!

The buyers from the major guilds began to feel a chill down their spines, and the guild leaders were no longer sure what was happening.

Was someone maliciously inflating the price? Logically, it should not have gone this high!

Five years ago, Tang Muzhou's one-star card had sold for 100,000. At the time, the exchange rate was 3:1, equivalent to more than 300,000 gold coins now.

Logically speaking, no matter how exceptional a one-star card was, 300,000 gold coins should have been its limit in the current market. After all, raising it to seven stars would require a massive additional investment. Even if instant-death skills had appeared for the first time, was there really any need to fight this desperately? The creator was not selling only this one card. Perhaps tomorrow's auction would have plenty more Lin Daiyus? If they fought so fiercely and spent a huge price to grab the first card, would they not become suckers if the creator later sold them in bulk?

The guild leaders all hesitated.

But Tang Muzhou did not hesitate at all. He narrowed his eyes slightly and pressed the bid button again.

A line of numbers suddenly appeared on the screen.

—660000.

The number remained fixed there, silently telling everyone, "Keep bidding if you want. I'm determined to get it."

It was practically a number with its own intimidating aura, and even Xie Mingzhe was stunned.

Which rich tycoon was this? That was seriously awesome!

The venue abruptly fell silent. The host's clear voice echoed through the hall. "660,000, going once! 660,000, going twice! 660,000, going three times—sold!"

As the hammer fell, Xie Mingzhe, seated in the venue, grinned from ear to ear.

He was rich! He was rich!

He had never expected this card to sell for 660,000 gold coins. Since it was the first Instant-Death Card, he had guessed that the major guilds would bid against each other and inflate its price. He had thought 200,000 would be the absolute limit. After all, it was merely a one-star card, not a full copyright buyout. He could still make many more Lin Daiyus in the future...

A level-one starter card selling for 660,000 was somewhat terrifying.

Perhaps several guilds had kept raising the price against each other until things got out of hand?

Xie Mingzhe did not take in any of the following auctions. He had no mood to care how much the other cards sold for.

He waited restlessly for the auction to end. Fortunately, there were no cards made by particularly famous designers at today's auction, and his level-one card had instead sold for the highest price. By 8:20, the auction was completely over.

Xie Mingzhe excitedly went to the Auction House's back office to collect the gold coins he was entitled to.

However, as soon as he arrived backstage at the Auction House, the NPC said, "The buyer of the Lin Daiyu Card left you a message. Please check it."

"Hello, Fat Uncle. I have already paid the 10% commission charged after the Auction House sale on your behalf. I would like to purchase Daiyu Cards from you in bulk. If you are willing to meet me, please come to Thousand Woods Restaurant north of the central square in the Peacock Star Domain. I'll be waiting for you."

"..." Xie Mingzhe stared at the message in surprise.

The Auction House did not disclose information about buyers or sellers in order to avoid disputes. However, after a sale was completed, buyers and sellers could leave messages for each other directly through the system NPC. Whether the other party responded depended entirely on their mood.

How did this person know he was called "Fat Uncle"? It was impossible to infer the name "Fat Uncle" from the "Yueban" logo alone. Could this person have known him all along? Xie Mingzhe could not figure it out no matter how hard he thought.

He never imagined that the person who had bought this card was Tang Muzhou!

And in order to wait for him to appear, Tang Muzhou had personally attended every auction for three whole days.

A Random Master

Xie Mingzhe withdrew 660,000 game coins from the Auction House. Converted into real Crystal Coins, that was 66,000—a huge sum of money for him.

This time, he did not hurry to sell the game coins at Star Card Bank. He already had 300,000 Crystal Coins in his bank account and had no worries about food or clothing, so he wanted to keep this money in the game for now as reserve funds for opening a shop in the future.

Xie Mingzhe returned to his personal space and organized his card display cabinet. Ten Daiyu Cards were arranged neatly inside, and simply looking at them was pleasing to the eye. He knew perfectly well that future Daiyu Cards could not possibly sell for the sky-high price of 660,000. Today, it was because the Daiyu Card had appeared at the auction for the first time, causing the major guilds to bid and fight frantically. Combined with a wealthy tycoon determined to get it, the price had been driven to such a terrifying level.