My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

"This item is called the Galaxy Glass Screen. It is about three feet high and five feet wide. It is made of twelve square glass pieces. Each piece is engraved with star patterns. When put together, they form a complete galaxy picture."

When the eunuch raised the screen, sunlight shone through the glass, and the entire screen displayed flowing light and shadow, as if a galaxy was slowly flowing before one's eyes, a beauty that was breathtaking.

"Those with talent who frequently observe it will experience a transformative effect, while even those without talent can prolong their lives and increase their fortune through regular viewing. Starting price: 60,000 taels of silver."

"Such an exquisitely crafted object is probably one of a kind!"

The officials were astonished, and the eyes of the members of the Five Clans and Seven Families were wide open in disbelief.

"Eighty thousand taels!"

Li Song was the first to call out a price, and then his gaze swept over the crowd.

"Please give the Li family of Longxi some face!"

After the words were spoken, the smaller families below fell silent again, but their dissatisfaction with the five surnames and seven clans grew stronger.

Just when Li Song thought he was about to win...

"Ninety thousand taels!"

A voice came from the private room next to him.

Li Song's face immediately turned ugly.

"Brother Zheng, we are both from five prominent families and seven noble clans. Why should we ruin our harmony over a mere trifle? This Starry River Screen is something the Li family of Longxi is determined to possess!"

"Haha, Brother Li is joking."

Zheng Hong's voice carried a hint of mockery.

"In the auction, the highest bidder wins, so how can it be considered discordant? My Zheng family also has a special fondness for this starry sky screen."

"you!"

Li Song's chest heaved with anger, his fingers gripping the brocade robe tightly.

"One hundred thousand taels! Zheng Hong, don't go too far!"

"One hundred and ten thousand taels!"

Zheng Hong did not back down, his tone full of provocation.

"Brother Li, if you are short of money, you should stop now to avoid an embarrassing end."

The two powerful families openly challenged each other, and the hall instantly erupted in chaos!

The smaller families, who had previously been bullied by the Five Clans and Seven Powers and dared not speak out, now held their breath, a hint of schadenfreude hidden in their eyes.

Just then, a playful voice suddenly came from another private room.

"150,000 taels! It seems this Star River Screen is indeed in high demand. My Cui family will also join in the fun."

Zheng Hong's expression changed slightly, and then he sneered.

"Brother Cui certainly knows how to snag a bargain, 160,000 taels!"

"One hundred and seventeen thousand taels!"

Wang Xian's voice suddenly rang out as well.

Previously, they dared not join rashly due to the conflict between the Li and Zheng families.

Seeing that Cui had entered, the situation became chaotic, and he couldn't help but step in.

In an instant, several major families were drawn into the bidding, and the price skyrocketed.

The price rose from 140,000 taels all the way to 200,000 taels!

Inside the hall, the auctioneer was already flushed with excitement, his voice trembling as he shouted.

"The Cui family has offered 200,000 taels! Any higher bids? 200,000 taels at a time—"

"Two hundred and one thousand taels!"

With red eyes, Li Song shouted, "The Li family of Longxi must not lose to Zheng Hong and Cui Cheng!"

"Two hundred and twenty thousand taels!"

Zheng Hong followed closely behind.

Just when everyone thought the price would continue to rise, Cui Cheng suddenly announced loudly.

"Two hundred and fifty thousand taels! My Cui family is offering two hundred and fifty thousand taels; I humbly request that you all give the Cui family of Boling some face!"

Li Song stared intently at the screen, finally slumped down, and let out a resentful snort.

Zheng Hong remained silent for a moment, but ultimately gave up on raising the price to 250,000 taels.

Even for him, it was already an astronomical price.

Wang Xian simply backed down, as he had only followed the trend anyway.

The auctioneer asked three times, but no one answered, so he called out loudly.

"The Cui family of Boling offered 250,000 taels! Sold!"

Inside the Cui family's private room, Cui Cheng looked at the starry sky screen on the display stand, a smug smile playing on his lips, and said to his confidant.

"Although it cost some money, this screen is from the celestial realm. Even if it can bring about a complete transformation, the benefits of longevity and increased fortune make it worthwhile!"

The confidant immediately flattered him.

"The patriarch is wise. With this screen guarding the Cui family mansion, other families will surely take notice!"

In the other private rooms, Zheng Hong, Li Song, and the others did not look too good.

Seeing this scene, Li Shimin's eyes flashed even colder, and he said in a deep voice.

"Two hundred and fifty thousand taels... The wealth of these aristocratic families is indeed far beyond my imagination."

Several more items were acquired by other prominent families.

The auctioneer calmed his excitement and announced loudly.

"Next up is the grand finale of today's auction—something that can bless literary success and bestow divine decrees…!"

As he spoke, four burly men carefully carried the heavy object wrapped in black cloth up to the platform.

The mysterious silhouette instantly silenced the entire room, and everyone's eyes were fixed on the black cloth.

The auctioneer ripped off the black cloth.

"The Nine-Turn Wenchang Pagoda!"

The black cloth was torn away, revealing a crystal-clear surface, as pure as ice, with upturned eaves and exquisite brackets.

Every line is clearly discernible, so transparent that you can see the hollow structure of the tower's core. The star patterns spiral upwards along the tower's body, shimmering slightly in the light and shadow, without a single impurity or flaw.

A collective gasp filled the hall.

Upon seeing this, Li Shimin rose and slowly walked down from the main seat.

He walked to the incense table that had been set up in the hall, where the tablets of Heaven and Earth and the God of Literature were enshrined.

A palace attendant respectfully presented three sticks of specially made incense, each as thick as a thumb and decorated with gold powder.

Li Shimin took the incense, lit it with the eternal flame of the palace lamp, held the incense with both hands, and faced the incense table.

"For the sake of all the people under heaven, I pray that literature will flourish, talented people will emerge in large numbers, and the country will be prosperous and the people at peace."

After bowing three times, Li Shimin carefully inserted the incense stick into the large bronze dragon-shaped incense burner.

The wisps of smoke rose straight up and lingered.

He then turned around and looked at the glazed pagoda.

Then, he bowed slightly to the glazed pagoda.

"Please, God of Literature, descend to the mortal realm!"

After speaking, Li Shimin subtly pressed the button he had hidden.

Inside the nine-inch-nine-tenths-inch glazed pagoda, tiny, star-like lights suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

The light flowed and traveled along the mysterious patterns inside the tower, illuminating each layer upwards from the base!

"It's glowing! The tower is glowing by itself!"

"A miracle! It truly is a miracle!"

An uncontrollable gasp erupted from the crowd below.

Many people stood up involuntarily, craning their necks and staring wide-eyed.

Even with the composure of Cui Cheng, Lu Yuan, and others, they could no longer maintain their composure in the elegant room on the second floor.

The teacup in Cui Cheng's hand froze in mid-air.

Lu Yuan's fingers, which were stroking his beard, froze.

Zheng Hong suddenly stood up and moved closer to the gauze curtain.

Wang Xian's mouth was slightly open.

Li Song's pupils contracted sharply as he stared intently at the pagoda that was spontaneously radiating starlight.

As the starlight reached the highest point of the tower, another anomaly occurred!

A faint halo appeared without warning above the spire, and the halo quickly condensed and stretched, transforming into an illusory light curtain.

On the screen of light, golden characters began to appear one by one, their strokes flowing like dragons and snakes, exuding an ancient charm.

"To learn and then practice what you have learned is a pleasure, isn't it?"

"The way of the Great Learning lies in manifesting one's bright virtue..."

"The benevolent love others..."

"As heaven maintains vigor through movement, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-improvement..."

Each and every word of the profound words of Confucian sages is clear and radiant.

"???"

The hall erupted in chaos.

The gasps turned to horror, and many people even knelt down involuntarily, muttering incantations.

This is no longer a coincidence, but a divine miracle! It is truly a revelation from the God of Literature!

Especially when the last sentence was revealed, the atmosphere in the entire hall reached a frenzied peak.

"To establish a moral compass for Heaven and Earth, to secure a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of past sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations!"

Even the representatives of smaller families who were already feeling financially strained by the bidding now had an almost fanatical fervor burning in their eyes.

If we can obtain this tower, what worries will our family not prosper?

Why should our descendants lack talent?

But their fortunes soon faded, as their wealth was probably no match for those powerful families.

This item is destined to fall into their hands; it's just a matter of who it will end up with.

Seeing that it was about time, Li Shimin pressed down again with his hand hidden in his sleeve.

The light gradually faded, the words slowly dissipated, and the glass pagoda returned to its crystal-clear appearance.

The shock on everyone's faces proved that what they had just witnessed was not an illusion.