“Chapter 62: Profitable Gain”

Chapter 62: A Lucrative Deal

The previous night, Wen Ying infused more magic into these cards to ensure their validity for a month. To prevent demons from using magic to detect the contents of the blind boxes, Muershi employed special packaging bags. As a result, Wen Ying could only add magic to the cards before they were sealed inside.

The cards were soon packaged and transported back to the dormitories by the two demons. Each of them kept half in their respective rooms. Since the cards were enclosed in the magic-blocking blind boxes, Wen Ying couldn't recharge them. With a one-month shelf life, he initially produced only three hundred sets.

At present, the Lucifer Academy had roughly a thousand students entering through various channels. Wen Ying decided to release three hundred sets to gauge the response.

After creating the products, Wen Ying recorded a video of himself using these magic cards with his phone. Once done, Muershi utilized his advertising network to spread the word, emphasizing that the cards were currently only available within the academy, with only three hundred sets available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Novel items always piqued the curiosity of creatures, especially since these cards could summon 3D versions of the powerful and handsome demons. Priced at 199 per pack, each containing one card, it didn't seem overly expensive.

While some demons deliberated over whether to buy based on the phone videos, many off-campus demons stumbled upon the promotional clips. Upon seeing the demons on the cards and realizing they could be summoned, they went wild, using various connections to ask relatives attending the Lucifer Academy to help purchase the cards for them.

It didn't matter if they were random; as long as they bought the boxes, they were guaranteed to get the card they wanted!

Both Wen Ying and Muershi were astonished. The day after the advertisement was released, all three hundred sets were sold. Many demons purchased them in bulk, requesting dozens of sets at once.

Out of the three hundred sets, only a dozen were sold individually through blind boxes. The rest were bought in boxes, each containing six cards for nearly 120 yuan, with ten boxes costing a total of 1,200 yuan. Wen Ying was stunned by the wealth of the demonic realm; these "customers" were too easy to please! They had only advertised for a single day!

Was the popularity of Poros and his ilk that terrifying in the Demon Realm? For the first time, Wen Ying realized the extent to which the demons in their class were idolized.

The demons who couldn't get their hands on the cards pleaded with Wen Ying to make more, asking for help in purchasing them on their behalf. Some even offered him deposits or full payment upfront, asking if he could notify them when the new batch was ready for pickup. A few demons, flush with cash, wanted to buy hundreds of sets. Muershi whispered to Wen Ying, "This guy probably wants to be a scalper."

Wen Ying declined the demon's offer, explaining that his production capacity was limited, and he didn't accept deposits. He promised to notify them when the next batch was available.

After a chaotic yet extraordinary day, Wen Ying earned over thirty-five thousand, not accounting for packaging costs and advertising expenses. But for just three hundred sets sold on the first day, it was already a substantial profit. Scarlet would take his 20% cut, but this only represented 20% of Scarlet's profits, not the overall earnings. There was still Muershi's share and the licensing fees to consider.

After their practical potion-making class in the evening, Wen Ying and Muershi headed to the cafeteria for dinner. In a rare moment of extravagance, Wen Ying ordered a flame-grilled crab fried rice, requesting extra crab roe, and an expensive wine-braised steak. The steak was made from the meat of a powerful demonic bovine in the Demon Realm, renowned for its delectable taste and rich magic energy. A small portion alone cost upwards of a thousand.

Muershi's choices were equally lavish.

As they dined on the second floor of the cafeteria, demons approached them throughout the meal, inquiring about the magic cards. Wen Ying told them all that the stock had run out but assured them that he would restock soon.

The buzz surrounding the magic cards had spread far and wide, fueled by the novelty of the cards and the involvement of seven prominent upper-class demon offspring. The hype continued to grow.

Lan Jiaying awaited his subordinate's report, feeling somewhat nervous. Upon seeing the returning demonic scout, he pretended to be nonchalant and inquired, "How did it go?"

The demon was also a student of Lucifer Academy, his expression brimming with delight. "They've all been sold."

"How about the sales for each type of card?" Lan Jiaying asked.

The demon was taken aback, his expression odd. "That guy Wen Ying introduced a random draw system, calling it a blind box. He claimed that one box guarantees all six designs, and there's an additional hidden design with a one-in-ten chance of appearing."

Lan Jiaying was stunned. How could he compare his popularity to Beros' under such circumstances? Feeling tricked by Wen Ying, his gaze flickered with uncertainty. "Whose card is the hidden one?"

"It belongs to Levimo."

A hidden card... Didn't this imply that Levimo's card was more valuable than his own?! Lan Jiaying slapped the table in displeasure and headed outside.

"Your Highness, where are you going?"

"I'm looking for Wen Ying."

Just as Wen Ying finished his meal, he saw Lan Jiaying approach with obvious ill intent. As Wen Ying wiped his mouth, he asked, "Is there something you need?"

"What's the deal with this blind box thing? Why is Levimo the hidden character?" Lan Jiaying asked, his voice lowered due to the public setting and the presence of other demons nearby.

"It was always supposed to be a blind box," Wen Ying replied innocently. "As for the hidden character, Levimo wasn't keen on giving authorization. After much persuasion, he reluctantly agreed, but with the condition that we minimize his involvement. That's why I created the hidden character."

"Shouldn't you be looking at sales instead?" Wen Ying changed his tone, approaching with a grin. He tiptoed and wrapped an arm around Lan Jiaying's shoulder, then whispered, "Let me tell you, popularity isn't determined by the hidden character. It's about sales and the online demand for specific cards. Since it's a blind box, people will inevitably request certain character cards or trade away those they don't want. Just observe which card gets requested the most, and you'll know who's popular, right?"

Lan Jiaying huffed. "Your mind is full of convoluted ideas." He pushed away Wen Ying's hand, trying to maintain his usual composure.

"Be patient for a while longer," Wen Ying waved dismissively. "I need to get back to work on the cards. You can keep an eye on the online situation anytime."

Arms crossed, Lan Jiaying spoke nonchalantly, "It's just a game to pass the time. Why should I keep track all the time?"

Wen Ying hummed indulgently, escaping before Lan Jiaying could become truly upset. This money tree needed to be pampered, and Wen Ying now regretted being too rough during their ranked match. He should have cherished Lan Jiaying's appearance more.

Muershi's factory was already prepared to package the cards as soon as Wen Ying finished them. Eager to gauge the popularity of the blind box magic cards, Wen Ying worked tirelessly each day, even squeezing in card-making during his breaks.

Essence watched as the industrious Magic Mirror Demon in front of him drew new cards on its fingertips. Leaning forward, Essence asked Wen Ying, "Why didn't you come to me?"

Wen Ying whipped his head around, his voice brimming with excitement. "Are you offering to authorize me to make cards?" He leaned forward eagerly, placing both hands on Essence's desk, his eyes shining brightly.

Essence leaned back, "…What got into you?"

"Nothing," Wen Ying waved his hand, putting away the floating card, "Are you going to authorize me? I'll split the profits with you, fifty-fifty."

A hint of surprise flickered in Scarlet's eyes. This was exactly the same as what he had been offered. Yesterday, he had been teased by his elders and fellow demon peers at home. The feeling was indescribable; he could only grip the ground with his toes in embarrassment. Fortunately, Wen Ying hadn't sold his card directly but bundled it with six others, and didn't include those horrifying cards written with water magic that spelled out "baby" or "love you".

These cards had become so popular that even the girls in his family asked him to buy Beros and the others' cards from Wen Ying, saying they couldn't get them elsewhere.

"I suppose it sounds interesting. I agree," Essence thought for a moment before nodding.

"I'll include you in the second set," Wen Ying said with a smile, his gaze warm. Essence was now also a cash cow. Succubi were definitely a hot commodity!

Essence rubbed his arm, "…Don't look at me like that." Usually, he was the one more enthusiastic than Wen Ying. When did it become Wen Ying's turn to overwhelm him with his passion?

The incubus chuckled. Incubus cards... Wen Ying's mind was now filled with ideas on how to create succubus cards, what backgrounds, poses, and expressions to use.

Beros furrowed his brows. There was an air of discontent around the entire demon realm. He wanted to say something, but everything felt awkward.

Wen Ying was immersed in his thriving money-making venture. He kept making cards while Muershi's factory continuously packaged and sold them. At first, there were too many demons who wanted to buy, and Wen Ying couldn't tell if they genuinely wanted that many or were trying to scalp them. So, he temporarily implemented purchase limits.

When the documentary was released, the frenzied purchasing of magic cards had subsided. The sales of complete sets decreased, while individual card purchases increased. Many demons only wanted multiples of specific cards they liked, not an abundance of those they didn't fancy.

On popular online forums, numerous trading posts emerged, with second-hand markets flooded with demons selling duplicates or unwanted character cards.

Wen Ying sensed that the moment had arrived. Together with Muershi, they used several alternate accounts to disseminate strategies for group buying and adjusting prices in blind box purchases, brightening the prospects for frustrated demons.

Assuming the roles of spontaneous group leaders, Wen Ying and Muershi initiated the first price-adjustment groups, allowing online demons to pool their resources.

As they were the pioneers in setting prices, other demons, unfamiliar with this new concept, instinctively followed their popularity-based pricing. Consequently, Perseus topped the list, followed by Levimo, and Lan Jiaying in third place.

By the time Lan Jiaying realized what was happening, the documentary had failed to create a splash online. Instead, a tidal wave of discussions and group buying activities centered around the magic cards. He was astonished to find himself ranked third!

Having Perseus above him was one thing, but how could Levimo be there too?!

Lan Jiaying's proud self-respect wouldn't stand for it. After understanding the group buying concept, he promptly allocated funds to his subordinates, instructing them to form groups, discreetly adjusting his card's price to the highest, thus surpassing Perseus and Levimo.

Initially, Wen Ying's pricing was thirty for Perseus, twenty-six for Levimo, twenty-five for Lan Jiaying, twenty-two each for Phileas and Lilith, ten for Scarlet, and five for Muershi. Lan Jiaying raised his own price to thirty-five, stealthily demoting Perseus to near the bottom, and even reducing Muershi's price to a mere one dollar.

Spotting the adjusted prices in the group buys, Scarlet found himself at the lower end of the spectrum, regardless of the group. This was a severe blow to his pride as an upper-class demon, almost bringing him to tears. Grabbing Wen Ying's collar, his eyes welled up with what could have been salty tears. Feeling a bit awkward, Wen Ying assured him that he wouldn't need to serve like a beast of burden anymore.

Scarlet was stunned, wondering whether it was better to remain as a three-year slave or not be turned into a card at all.

After soothing the giant, Wen Ying and Muershi began their aggressive actions. Muershi swiftly instructed his demonic minions to create new accounts and snatch up all the cards in Lan Jiaying's group except for Lan Jiaying's character card.

Wild demonic buyers noticed that the prices of the other character cards in Lan Jiaying's group were significantly lower than the current market rate, so they rushed to join the group buying spree.

Lan Jiaying purchased large quantities of the first edition blind box cards, allowing Wen Ying to earn from the initial wave and then recover many popular character cards at a price lower than their calculated market value. He infused them with magic, repackaged them, and sold them again for another profit.

For example, the card of Phileas was sold at nineteen yuan and ninety cents. Wen Ying would buy it back from Lan Jiaying at around twenty yuan and resell it, profiting without losing any money from Lan Jiaying.

To maintain the current pricing, Lan Jiaying had to keep opening groups, keeping the market rate high. Within a month, he found his personal funds dwindling significantly. What was even more frustrating was that he soon realized Wen Ying's strategy, but he couldn't stop. Doing so would mean losing his top position, something he couldn't tolerate.

The Devil King noticed this situation and summoned Lan Jiaying, asking him to shift his focus back to the documentary he initially planned. Now, the documentary hardly created any buzz online, and even if they announced the release of DVD copies, it probably wouldn't generate much interest. Not many demons would buy it.

Every day, Lan Jiaying attended classes with pent-up anger, targeting Wen Ying as his sparring partner during Feng Luo's practical combat training sessions, beating him relentlessly.

Feng Luo's practical combat training courses varied, including no-magic close combat sessions, magic-only battles, and a mix of both. The extent of Wen Ying's injuries depended on which type of class Feng Luo conducted.

Beros intended to help Wen Ying, assuming that the delicate demon, who feared pain, wouldn't want to be hit. However, he was astonished when Wen Ying actually declined!

This delicate demon, who had cried during their first sparring session and made Wen Ying doubt his control, didn't hesitate to decline him. Instead, he engaged in fierce battles with Lan Jiaying every week.

In classes where magic was forbidden, Lan Jiaying was full of energy while Wen Ying spent a day in the school infirmary. In magic-enabled classes, they went head-to-head, with one getting burned and the other poisoned. In mixed classes, Wen Ying eventually gained the upper hand. Initially, both demons ended up in the infirmary, but later, only Lan Jiaying frequented it.

Throughout this process, Wen Ying's melee combat skills improved, his control over magic increased, and his proficiency with vines became more refined. Lan Jiaying, on the other hand, developed a better resistance to poison.

Aruda shared this story with the Devil King, who, despite his usual mastery and composure, found himself at a disadvantage when it came to competing with his children. He summoned Lan Jiaying back, scolding him for his impulsiveness. Lan Jiaying grew even more resentful towards Wen Ying, neglecting Wu Fei and devising ways to mentally torment Wen Ying.

Unbothered by any trouble, Wu Fei was grateful for Wen Ying's sacrifices and frequently treated him to meals. Gradually, their relationship grew closer, turning into a genuine friendship.

Lan Jiaying tossed and turned in bed countless nights, vowing to turn the tables in the next monthly exam. However, the second month's exam consisted only of written tests, no practical ones. Determined, Wen Ying buried himself in books and managed to pass all his classes. While he barely scraped by in Devil-related subjects except for potions, he excelled in human-related knowledge such as basic human laws, disguising as a human, and exploiting exorcist weaknesses. In contrast, one-third of the demon students failed these human-related courses.

Feng Luo was extremely displeased. In Lai Yehua's class, only one-fifth of the students failed human-related subjects. Lai Yehua sarcastically remarked that Feng Luo seemed to have a soft spot for humans, explaining the higher number of failing devils in his class.

Furious, Feng Luo dragged out all the failing devils, as there were no rules against corporal punishment in the Devil Realm. That day, Wen Ying could hear screams echoing from the training hall.

Muershi was one of the failing students. Wen Ying listened to his tragic account: Feng Luo had taken them to the training hall and summoned a few humans, including Lu Qingtao, to create impromptu questions. Each demon had to answer one question, facing punishment for incorrect answers. They could only leave after answering five questions correctly.

"After last Friday's ordeal, I can't afford to underestimate those human teachers anymore," Muershi said, his tattered wings spread across the desk like a lifeless fish. "It was terrifying. Thankfully, Lu Qingtao took pity on me and gave out easier questions; otherwise, you probably wouldn't be seeing me today."

"You brought it upon yourself for not paying attention in class," Li Jie, sitting in front, turned around. "Lai Yehua is so condescending, no wonder Feng Luo got upset."

"That was harsh," Muershi's voice was barely audible. "I've never been so scared in my life. I even pinned my hopes on the humans, hoping they'd give easy questions to let me off."

"Wu Shaluo didn't come today?" Wen Ying gloated. "Was he in an even worse state than you?" Wu Shaluo had also failed the test.

Muershi burst into laughter, his body trembling. "Lu Qingtao and Cheng Haoyuan, those two humans, deliberately made things difficult for him. Wu Shaluo suffered the most at Feng Luo's hands that day."

Wen Ying couldn't help but chuckle at the irony. It served Wu Shaluo right for crossing Lu Qingtao at the beginning of the school year. With Feng Luo's support and the magic cards he sold, Lu Qingtao and Cheng Haoyuan had grown bolder.

That evening, Wen Ying returned home in high spirits. Seeing Aruda plucking numerous fruits from the yard's trees, he asked curiously, "Grandma, what do you need all these fruits for?"

Aruda's basket contained not only one type of fruit but many others.

"The Magic Birthday is approaching, and the Demon King has asked me to assist with making some enchanted pastries for the castle banquet."

Wen Ying walked over, took the large basin from Aruda's arms, and followed her into the house.

"Devil's Birthday?"

Aruda explained, "It's the day in the demon realm when the first demon is said to have been born. The entire demon realm gets ten days off with festivities and celebrations. Demons dress up in traditional furs, and the streets are adorned with ancient decorations. You could go out and play with your classmates."

The prospect of a demonic holiday filled Wen Ying with anticipation; it sounded fascinating.

"There'll be lots of young couples around at this time," Aruda's tone turned sly, "Many pairs will form on Devil's Birthday. Does the human world have something like Valentine's Day? Devil's Birthday is similar. Young demons wear masks they like and invite their beloved to join them for a stroll, giving each other gifts."

Invite their beloved to play while wearing masks? Wen Ying was taken aback. He recalled Wu Fei inviting their classmates to the Flame Mountain villa a month ago. After leaving at ten, Beros had unusually bought him a hair tie, and then got a mask for himself...

They did, in a way, play in the town beneath the Flame Mountain that day.

Could it be that Beros was expressing his affection for him that day?! Wen Ying was stunned into immobility, reviewing the details of that day with uncertainty. Aruda had mentioned gift-giving, and Beros had given him something, but he hadn't given Beros a gift in return.

No wonder Beros had looked upset after returning to the villa. Wen Ying suddenly understood, sighing as he realized how much he still needed to learn about the demon realm.

Lately, he'd been engrossed in leveling up (Lan Jiaying) and selling cards, neglecting Beros for too long.

"What's wrong?" Aruda asked, looking back as he walked ahead.

Wen Ying regained his composure and approached. "It's nothing."

"Perfect, I'll teach you how to make pastries using these magical plants today. They're both convenient and visually appealing magical confections." Aruda led Wen Ying to the kitchen, a spacious area already filled with various ingredients and tools. The dining table outside was also adorned with supplies.

Intrigued, Wen Ying examined every corner of the kitchen meticulously. Aruda washed the fruits, chopped them into small pieces with a simple wind blade spell, then cooked them in a pot until they formed a paste. He sealed the mixture in clay jars and stored them in the fridge.

Next, he took out some flour and mixed it with the magical plant juice.

...

After assisting Aruda for a while, Wen Ying went upstairs to work on his homework. As usual, he picked up the white egg to inspect it. Suddenly, a faint "crack" made Wen Ying freeze in his tracks.

To ensure he hadn't misheard, Wen Ying lowered his head to examine the egg on his lap carefully. A tiny crack had appeared on one side! It was gradually expanding, branching out into more fractures.

One, two, three... The small cracks multiplied, and soon, fragments of the eggshell began to fall off. Wen Ying could sense the young beast inside forcefully pushing against the weakened spot.

Paralyzed with fear of disturbing the infant creature, Wen Ying remained motionless for half an hour. Finally, the young beast broke through the shell, a wet, snow-white mass protruding and getting stuck.

It was indistinguishable, with no recognizable shape or features. It was unclear which part of the creature it represented.

Wen Ying whispered encouragingly, "Come on, you can do it."

The white cub struggled for another half an hour before finally breaking free from its eggshell. Now, Wen Ying could get a good look at the young magical beast.

It was drenched and covered in long fur that clung to its body. Its ears were elongated, with the upper part standing upright while the lower part folded sideways. Its head resembled a cat's, and its front paws were thicker than its back ones, as if wearing mittens. It had a slender tail with a forked end.

The cub let out a soft cry and nuzzled against Wen Ying. Reacting, Wen Ying hastily fetched a towel to wrap around it before rushing downstairs to shout, "Grandma Aluda! The white egg has hatched!"

Aluda was in the middle of preparing the filling for pies. Upon hearing this, she set down her utensils, wiped her hands, and approached.

Under Wen Ying's anxious gaze, Aluda carefully picked up the white cub and examined it thoroughly.