Chapter 592

The venue of the family banquet was not set in some grandiose palace.

Translation: The venue of the family banquet was not set in some magnificent palace.

Rather, Qin Hao created a small courtyard himself, out of nothing, in a tranquil void using his own power.

Translation: But Qin Hao, using his own power, created a small courtyard out of nothing in a tranquil void.

The courtyard features an artificial hill, flowing water, and an old, lush pagoda tree.

Translation: The courtyard had an artificial hill, flowing water, and also an old locust tree with lush branches and leaves.

When Qin Zheng, Qin Wu, Qin Si, Qin An, and Qin Yue arrived one after another, they saw exactly this scene.

Translation: When Qin Zheng, Qin Wu, Qin Si, Qin An, and Qin Yue arrived one after another, they saw exactly this scene.

Qin Hao was tying an apron, standing beside a stone table.

Translation: Qin Hao was tying on an apron, standing beside a stone table.

On the table were placed some home-cooked dishes they hadn't seen in a long time.

Translation: On the table were placed some home-cooked dishes they hadn't seen in a long time.

Containing no power of any rules, they were simply ordinary ingredients cooked in the most traditional way.

Translation: Containing no power of any rules, they were just the most ordinary ingredients, cooked in the most traditional way.

"You're all back, come sit down, try my cooking to see if my skills have deteriorated."

Translation: "You're all back, hurry and sit, try my cooking to see if I've gotten worse."

Qin Hao lifted his head, his face bearing a gentle smile.

Translation: Qin Hao raised his head, his face bearing a gentle smile.

"Dad, what's this today..."

Translation: "Dad, what's this today..."

The most straightforward Qin Wu couldn't help but speak up.

Translation: The most straightforward Qin Wu couldn't help but speak up.

"Having a meal."

Translation: "Eat."

Qin Hao picked up a chopstickful of braised pork and placed it in Qin Wu's bowl.

Translation: Qin Hao picked up a chopstickful of braised pork and placed it in Qin Wu's bowl.

"Don't talk while eating, don't speak while sleeping—old rule, have you forgotten?"

Translation: "No talking while eating, no talking while sleeping, the old rule—have you forgotten?"

Qin Wu stopped asking and buried himself in eating heartily.

Translation: Qin Wu stopped asking and buried his head in eating heartily.

The atmosphere gradually relaxed amid the aroma of the food.

Translation: The atmosphere gradually relaxed amid the fragrance of the food.

Everyone began sharing their experiences from the cosmic sea.

Translation: Everyone began chatting about their own experiences in the Cosmic Sea.

Qin Wu said he recently discovered a martial universe formed from combat will, where every being is a fighting maniac, and he plans to go there sometime to spar.

Translation: Qin Wu said he had recently discovered a Martial Dao Universe formed from battle will, where every living being was a fighting maniac, and he planned to go spar with them after a while.

Qin Zheng, meanwhile, is working to build a stable navigation network covering the entire cosmic sea,

Translation: Qin Zheng, meanwhile, was working to build a stable navigation network covering the entire Cosmic Sea,

so that even weak civilizations can safely undertake interstellar travel.

Translation: allowing even weak civilizations to safely undertake interstellar travel.

Qin Si discovered a huge library left from the previous era, containing many unknown secrets, and she is preparing to organize an archaeological team to excavate it.

Translation: Qin Si had discovered a huge library left over from the previous era, containing many unknown secrets, and she was preparing to organize an archaeological team to excavate it.

Qin An recounted how he helped a civilization that had fallen into despair after its homeworld's destruction, helping them regain hope,

Translation: Qin An related how he had helped a civilization that had fallen into despair after its homeworld's destruction, helping it regain hope,

his face lit up with a satisfied smile.

Translation: his face lit up with a satisfied smile.

Qin Yue displayed the various beautiful stones she had collected—some that can sing, some that can change color, all kinds of oddities.

Translation: Qin Yue, meanwhile, displayed the various pretty stones she had collected—some that could sing, some that could change color, all kinds of oddities.

Qin Hao and Qian Yin just listened quietly.

Translation: Qin Hao and Qian Yin just listened quietly.

Their faces always bore a smile.

Translation: Their faces always bore a smile.

They watched their children, now grown adults, who had found their own values and pursuits, filling their hearts with comfort and pride.

Translation: They looked at their own children, all grown up, each having found their own worth and pursuits, their hearts filled with gratification and pride.

The meal lasted a long time.

Translation: The meal lasted a long time.

When the dishes on the table were emptied and the sun on the horizon began to set, Qin Hao finally put down his chopsticks.

Translation: When the dishes on the table had been emptied and the sun on the horizon began to slant westward, Qin Hao finally put down his chopsticks.

He wiped his mouth and glanced around at his family.

Translation: He wiped his mouth, glanced around at his family.

"I called you all back today not just for a meal, but also to announce something."

Translation: "I called you all back today; besides eating, there's something I need to announce."

"Here it comes."

Translation: It had come.

Everyone's hearts rose.

Translation: Everyone's hearts were lifted.

They put down their bowls and chopsticks, sat upright, and looked at Qin Hao.

Translation: They set down their bowls and chopsticks, sat upright, and looked at Qin Hao.

Qin Hao's gaze was full of affection and reluctance.

Translation: Qin Hao's gaze was full of affection and reluctance.

"I am preparing... to leave."

Translation: "I am preparing... to leave."

These words, although expected by everyone, when they truly came from Qin Hao's mouth,

Translation: These few words, although expected by everyone, but when they truly came from Qin Hao's mouth,

still made everyone's hearts sink sharply.

Translation: still made everyone's hearts sink sharply.

"Leave? Where to?"

Translation: "Leave? Where to?"

Qin Wu asked urgently.

Translation: Qin Wu asked eagerly.

"A very distant place."

Translation: "A very faraway place."

Qin Hao's gaze turned toward the edge of the cosmic sea.

Translation: Qin Hao's gaze turned toward the end of the Cosmic Sea.

"To visit an old friend, and then to see the scenery beyond the wall."

Translation: "To visit an old friend, and then to see the scenery beyond the wall."

"Beyond the wall."

Translation: Beyond the wall.

Those present naturally understood what that term meant.

Translation: Those present naturally understood what that word meant.

It is the broader, more dangerous world that the Daoist Xuan Du once mentioned.

Translation: That was a broader, more dangerous world that Daoist Xuan Du had once mentioned.

"Dad, we'll go with you!"

Translation: "Dad, we'll go with you!"

Qin Yue stood up and grabbed Qin Hao's arm.

Translation: Qin Yue stood up and grabbed Qin Hao's arm.

"Yeah, it's so dangerous out there; how can you go alone?"

Translation: "Yeah, it's so dangerous out there; how can you go alone?"

Qin An also agreed.

Translation: Qin An also echoed.

Qin Hao smiled, shook his head, and rubbed Qin Yue's head.

Translation: Qin Hao laughed, shook his head, and rubbed Qin Yue's head.

"Silly child."

Translation: "Silly child."

"That place isn't accessible just by having more people."

Translation: "That place isn't something you can get to just by having more people."

"Everyone has their own path to walk. My path lies far away, while yours is here."

Translation: "Everyone has their own Dao to walk. My Dao lies far away, while yours lies here."

His gaze slowly swept over each child's face.

Translation: His gaze slowly swept over each child's face.

"This home, this civilization, will henceforth be entrusted to you."

Translation: "This family, this civilization, will henceforth be entrusted to you."

"When I'm not around, you must support each other, take good care of your mother, and also look after our people."

Translation: "When I'm not around, you must support each other, take good care of your mother, and also take good care of our clanspeople."

"Dad..."

Translation: "Dad..."

Qin Wu's eye sockets were somewhat red.

Translation: Qin Wu's eye sockets were somewhat red.

This man who could stand up to heaven and earth showed a vulnerable side when facing parting.

What are you crying for?

Qin Hao glared at him.

It's not like we're parting in life and death.

Once I've found my footing out there, I might come back to get you someday.

He stood up and walked to the center of the courtyard.

All right, the meal is finished, the talk is done.

I should be going.

He looked at his wife, Qian Yin, his eyes full of guilt and affection.

Yin Yin, you've worked hard all these years.

Qian Yin smiled and shook her head, but tears glimmered at the corners of her eyes.

Go on.

I've got the kids here, you can relax.

Qin Hao nodded.

He didn't say anything more.

Any words at this moment feel pale.

He simply gave his family one last deep look, etching their faces into the deepest part of his soul.

Then he turned and walked out toward the gate.

His silhouette was stretched long in the afterglow of the sunset.

Dad!

Behind him, Qin Zheng and the others let out choked cries.

Qin Hao did not turn back.

He merely raised his hand and waved it behind him.

He took a step forward.

His figure vanished at the gate.

As if he had never appeared.

After Qin Hao's figure disappeared, the atmosphere in the small courtyard fell into a prolonged silence.

Everyone was still immersed in the sorrow of parting.

In the end, it was Qian Yin, as mother, who first broke the silence.

She wiped the tears from her eyes, "All right, don't be sad anymore."

He's going to do what he needs to do, and we need to do what we need to do.

Qin Zheng, Qin Wu, Qin Si, Qin An, and Qin Yue exchanged a glance, seeing resolve in each other's eyes.

Their father's departure isn't an end.

but a new beginning.

They must shoulder this responsibility.

Mom, we understand.

Qin Zheng was the first to step forward, his expression returning to its usual calm and composure.

The others' feelings were somewhat complicated.

Since the Yanhuang Civilization entered the Cosmic Sea, such a warm scene hasn't occurred in ages.

They have grown accustomed to war, to exploration, to viewing everything with a grand perspective.

Yet they almost forgot that they too were once an ordinary family.

……

At the far end of the Cosmic Sea.

A region known as the Void Wall.

This is the boundary of the Cosmic Sea.

Beyond that lies a place where even light and law cannot exist—absolute void.

A figure appeared here soundlessly.

It was Qin Hao.

He gazed at the endless darkness before him, feeling the silence that could swallow everything.

He felt no fear.

Only anticipation for the journey ahead.

Just then.

A leisurely voice sounded from behind him.

You've finally come.

Qin Hao turned around.

He saw an old man in a Daoist robe, riding a green ox, smiling at him.

Around the old man, space and time lost their meaning.

It was Xuandu.

Senior, you've kept me waiting long.

Qin Hao bowed respectfully to the old man.

Xuandu waved his hand.

Before long, for us, eighty thousand years is nothing more than the time it takes to nap.

His gaze swept over Qin Hao's body, revealing an approving expression.

Not bad, not bad, to have reached this point so quickly, far earlier than I expected.

You now have the qualifications to go and see the scenery beyond the wall.

Qin Hao's gaze once again turned toward that wall of emptiness.

Senior, what exactly lies beyond the wall?

This is his greatest doubt, and also the ultimate goal of his journey.