Millions of people spend small amounts of money to obtain virtual items for their video game characters or avatars to wear and use proudly. But how many people do you know have spent a small fortune for one single video game item?

A Chinese man did just that, paying $16,000 for a one-of-a-kind sword in the upcoming martial arts MMO, Age of Wulin. The man won the honor of paying such a price for the virtual item through an auction put on by Snail Games, the maker of the title. Other notable acquisitions included two sheathes—one for the Hook of Departure and one for a Lordly Spear—which sold for $2,500 and $1,600.

You can see a trailer for the game below.

$16,000 would be an absurd amount of money to spend on a REAL sword (not counting those of a more historical significance), let alone one that this man will never wrap his hands around.

Age of Wulin is set to open a beta in the spring of 2012, and an English version is expected shortly thereafter.

Trailer

[Source: Daily Mail via Game Informer]