Chapter 9

It was really very late.

However, the Tang Family Manor truly respected teachers and valued education. No matter how late it was, Tang Zheng still managed to get the flower pot he wanted.

After Tang Xiaotang left, Tang Zheng took out the flower king, which was wrapped in paper, from the bundle.

"Little baby, let me see, are you damaged?" Tang Zheng carefully examined the flower king.

It wasn't damaged.

The flower king was, after all, the flower king.

Despite all the troubles it had gone through, it still looked as fresh and bright as ever, showing no signs of withering.

Of course, Tang Zheng's handling and preservation techniques were also a significant factor in keeping the flower king fresh!

"Come on." Tang Zheng locked the door from the inside, rolled up his sleeves, and started to prepare the soil and transplant the flower.

Moonlight streamed in through the back window, falling on the flower king. The seven layers of petals bathed in the silver light, slowly unfurling. Although they weren't as dazzling as in the sunlight, they seemed to have gained a charm unique to the night.

"It's alive." Although Tang Zheng didn't bring any life skills from his previous world, his experience was still there. Seeing the unfurled petals, he knew the flower king wouldn't die.

He then recalled the layout of the small courtyard.

The courtyard had a central hall, behind which was a study, where Tang Zheng was now. Next to the study was a bedroom, which was not large but quite clean.

After some thought, Tang Zheng placed the flower king on the windowsill of his bedroom and pulled over a screen to shield it slightly.

After washing up, he lay on the soft bed, finally having a moment of peace.

The Starlight Continent...

The star charts...

The Nine Star Palaces...

Upon arriving in this unfamiliar world, he faced one crisis after another, with no beginner protection. There was too much information, and he had no time to digest or organize it.

"The Starlight Continent, with its nine provinces and four seas, is divided among noble families. What I've encountered so far is probably just a fraction of it."

"Star charts. Tian Meng said that even a beggar is born with their own star chart... Then what about outsiders? What about me? It can't be something like instant noodles, a phone, or a game pod, right?"

"The Nine Star Palaces... Hmm, this one really stumps me. I've never heard of it before..."

After a brief organization, Tang Zheng realized that the path ahead would be fraught with difficulties.

But his eyes grew brighter.

This was what "strange" meant!

This was what "unknown" meant!

These words represented difficulties and dangers, but on the other hand, they also represented countless possibilities in life!

What are countless possibilities?

To put it simply, if he chose to be reborn, even if he became the world's richest person, he would still grow old, fall ill, and die...

But on the Starlight Continent, transcending life and death for true power was not a problem!

"Living is very important, because if you die before spending all your money, that would be too painful..." Tang Zheng subconsciously thought, then slapped his head, "Damn! Tang Zheng, what kind of ambition is that!"

He hadn't forgotten, and couldn't forget, the words carved on the game pod for ten years:

"One day, I will no longer run around for money. At that time, I will make the whole world remember who I am! — Tang Zheng."

If his purple-gold belt could be opened, the first part of this vow would be almost fulfilled. But could he achieve the second part and give himself an answer?

Tang Zheng's smile gradually faded, and his gaze shifted to the purple-gold belt on his pillow.

"Don't think too deeply, or all the problems will come at once," Tang Zheng, a player who specialized in difficult tasks in his previous life, felt a headache. "Does this world have something like 'blue'? What can be used as 'blue'? Are there any spatial items? How do you open them...?"

With a series of headache-inducing questions, he thought and thought... and eventually fell asleep.

Being a clown also had its benefits!

No matter if the sky fell or the earth cracked, he could still eat well and sleep soundly.

The night passed quietly.

Tang Zheng didn't dream about star charts or purple-gold.

He dreamed about taking out the remaining half bowl of instant noodles from his fridge, heating it up, and eating it.

"Ambition!" Tang Zheng thought about the dream the next morning and felt a headache.

...

Tang Xiaotang got up very early.

She went to the library to find books before dawn, skipped breakfast, and quickly delivered them to Tang Zheng.

The Tang Family Manor had moved many times, and most of the books they carried were martial arts manuals. Each move reduced their number, and other types of books, such as poetry and history, were even rarer. Finding useful books was not easy.

Tang Xiaotang selected a book on poetry, a dictionary, and a few history books. She also considered a few novels but decided not to bring them to Tang Zheng.

When Tang Xiaotang delivered the books, Tang Zheng had just woken up and finished his breakfast, which was delivered by a servant. At that moment, he was doing radio calisthenics in the courtyard...

Tang Xiaotang raised her hand and threw the books directly!

Tang Zheng's eyes widened, and he lunged forward to catch them.

However, the stack of books rose and fell steadily in the air, drawing a perfect arc and landing right in the center of the stone table in the courtyard!

"Damn!" If Tang Zheng's agility wasn't excellent, he would have crashed into the stone table.

"Ahahahaha..." Tang Xiaotang burst out laughing, unflatteringly. "Master, what are you doing?"

"Little girl!" Tang Zheng gritted his teeth, sat down by the table, and started flipping through the books.

The text was in traditional Chinese, and there were no significant reading barriers.

The writing and structure of the poems were similar to what he had learned. If there was any difference, it was probably due to the long-term turmoil in this world. Although they respected scholars, martial power was still supreme, and the study of poetry and miscellaneous knowledge had been reduced. Complex elements like tone and rhyme were no longer seen.

However, the history books were quite interesting and helped Tang Zheng understand this unknown world faster.

Tang Xiaotang sat beside him. Seeing him read for a long time without speaking, she couldn't help but ask, "How is it? Can these books be used?"

Tang Zheng looked up and asked, "What age are the children I will teach?"

"From three to thirty years old..."

"..."

"What's wrong?"

"Are you sure thirty-year-olds can still be called children?" Tang Zheng rubbed his forehead and shook his head. "No, no, that's not the point..."

The point was, he would have to teach from kindergarten to graduate school?

By himself!

Heaven and earth, he hadn't even completed nine years of compulsory education!

He wasn't Ba Jin, Leonardo da Vinci, or a great scholar in any field. He was just a noodle-eating, game-playing shut-in!

"Is... there any problem?" Tang Xiaotang looked puzzled. "If you have any difficulties, just say so, and I'll take care of it!"

Tang Zheng was still thinking about how to teach from kindergarten to graduate school when he blurted out, "How much per month?"

Tang Xiaotang thought it was a big issue, but upon hearing it, she sighed in relief, "Thirty silver coins per month! Board and lodging included!"

"Okay, and..."

"Go ahead!"

"Are there no primers like the 'Three-Character Classic' or the 'Thousand Character Text'?"

"What are those..."

"Primers, you know, um," Tang Zheng thought about how to explain, "the first book a child will read in their life!"

Tang Xiaotang nodded in understanding.

Then she turned and went to fetch them.

It turned out that Tang Zheng and Tang Xiaotang had a huge misunderstanding!

About a quarter of an hour later, Tang Xiaotang brought him a small book box. The box was labeled "Guiding Star Patterns." When Tang Zheng opened it, he was instantly moved to tears.

Pictures!

The small box was filled with picture books!

Not a single word.

Indeed, the first book a child would read in their life!

"These Guiding Star Patterns have been in my possession for many years," Tang Xiaotang caressed the small book box. "After I lit my first star palace at twelve, I no longer needed them. If you find them useful, I'll give them to you."

"Guiding Star Patterns... So, they are primers for cultivating star power..." Tang Zheng flipped through them while listening to Tang Xiaotang's description, guessing what these picture books were for.

"Do you recognize all the words in these books, Master?" Tang Xiaotang flipped through a few history books and could only recognize about 70-80%.

"Of course..." Tang Zheng's smug expression appeared.

"No wonder Master only started cultivating star power now!" Tang Xiaotang looked enlightened again.

"..." Tang Zheng decided to keep quiet.

Although he was used to his charm lasting only three seconds, now it was questionable if it lasted even one second!

Tang Xiaotang straightened her clothes and stood up. "The初级练武场 is on the easternmost side of the Tang Family Manor. There are arrays drawn with purple-gold powder that can help you build a solid foundation. If you want to practice the Guiding Star Patterns, you must go there!"

"I'm twenty-two this year. Is it too late to start cultivating?"

"What nonsense!" Tang Xiaotang looked at him with disdain. "It's never too late to do what you want! But if you're not determined to do something, being older is a good excuse!"

"Is that so?" Tang Zheng felt a warm feeling in his heart.

"Good luck!" Tang Xiaotang's eyes, full of youthful energy, curved into a crescent moon when she smiled. "If you have any questions, feel free to ask me!"

Tang Xiaotang had been busy all morning, finding things for Tang Zheng and not even having a bowl of porridge. After saying this, she bid farewell.

After she left, Tang Zheng opened the small book box again and started flipping through the picture books.

The "Guiding Star Patterns" were not martial arts manuals but rather general primers for the Starlight Continent. There were seventeen books in total, including "Star Chart Patterns," "Star Pulse Flow," "Guiding Stars into Destiny," and a basic introduction to the fourteen main stars.

Tang Zheng didn't read the others for the moment and opened the first and thinnest book, "Star Chart Patterns"!

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Thank you to Brother Wai Jiang Shan for the generous reward!

Thank you to Raist2 for the 1888 QD coins, Heng Luo? Mo for the 988 QD coins, Meng You De Miao, Tang? Tiao, 5Xiao Qi, Nao Qi Zhen Yan for the 88 QD coins, Huan Xue Fei Ying * Luo Tian Ye Long for the 300 QD coins, Yun Luo De Yun Chang, Tui Fei Xiao Yan 123, Xue Ye Xing? M, Xing Kong Zhi Gu for the 200 QD coins, zyc6720, Shui He Zhi Wu, Yu Wen Yi Mao, Shou Hu Zhe Ping Fan De Yi Sheng, You Er Yuan Nan Shen, Na Bu Le Si Ye Xun, Xue Gao Wu Di, xmib123, Zhong Guo Zhan Dui, A Zhi He, Xiao Xiao Ling for the 100 QD coins...

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