Page 86
If the man named Gu Shi was not exaggerating, life has existed for hundreds of millions of years in a time unknown to humans, and has been constantly competing and evolving, and each era has been incomparably magnificent.
Even if we could go back to the past, what era would we go back to? We couldn't spend hundreds of millions of years in the past.
"Senior, instead of being disappointed about not being able to witness the past, we should look forward to the future. As long as we are strong enough, we can definitely witness the world thousands or tens of thousands of years from now, or even more."
As he spoke, Urahara Kisuke raised his head and gazed up at the blue sky where the stars had not yet appeared, his eyes full of longing.
Aizen felt sorry for not being able to witness the passing world, and so did he. But it didn’t matter, there were more magnificent worlds among the stars waiting for him to discover and witness.
Accepting Gu Shi’s invitation was indeed the right choice. The infinitely vast and beautiful world was right there. If I couldn’t see it with my own eyes, wouldn’t it be a waste of my life?
Aizen also remembered Gu Shi’s "prophecy". In the vast starry sky, there are billions of "worlds" hidden. What do those worlds look like?
For a moment, Aizen couldn't help but feel a little yearning.
"...Come on, Kisuke, it's time to go back."
During the brief silence, Aizen quickly composed himself, brushed the dust off his hands, and no longer had any attachment to the bones at his feet or to everything that had passed away.
It can be predicted that there must be more skeletons hidden in the earth around, but there is no need to continue digging.
It would be enough as long as Gu Shi's "prophecy" is verified, it is confirmed that there are indeed remnants of ancient life buried underground, and it is confirmed that there were indeed magnificent eras before humans.
Urahara Kisuke also stood up and nodded slightly.
"After I return, I will research a device that can transform matter into spirit particles. Then, I will be able to bring these skeletons back to Soul Society and decorate my laboratory."
Aizen thought about it and nodded in agreement.
"Not a bad idea, I can help."
"Okay, let's cooperate."
Both of them recognized each other's talents, and with just a few words, they discussed the details of the cooperation, then opened the gate and returned to Soul Society.
The next day, shocking news began to spread wildly in the Maou Spiritual Academy.
The freshman who kept asking for leave after entering the school and whose total class time was less than one week, Urahara Kisuke, he applied for early graduation!
For a time, Urahara Kisuke became the focus of the whole school.
You know, you can't apply for early graduation whenever you want. In order to prevent students from not knowing their own status and submitting applications at random, wasting the manpower of Seireitei, Mao's teachers will conduct a preliminary assessment before each application to confirm that the students who want to submit the application have met the graduation standards in the four major subjects of Zhan Quan Ke Zou, as well as cultural subjects, before they will agree to submit the application.
Since Urahara Kisuke was able to successfully submit his application, it meant that he had proved himself to the teachers and had reached the level of a sixth-grade graduate.
Although the final examination for early graduation will definitely be more difficult than the regular graduation examination, and Urahara Kisuke may not be able to pass it smoothly, the fact that he was able to submit an application is enough to prove that he has surpassed more than 90% of Mao's students.
How could the students not be shocked by this?
While Mao's students were discussing noisily, in an empty classroom, Urahara Kisuke, who was being talked about by everyone, was pouring tea for his beloved senior with a smile on his face.
"Senior, didn't we agree yesterday to collaborate on research? I went back and thought about it, and I feel that the labs I have are too rudimentary. So, for better collaboration, I will graduate early.
"Next, I will join the second squad. Yoruichi's mother has promised me that as long as I can seize more than ten officer positions within a week after joining the team, she will agree to set up a research institute in the name of the squad, and I will be fully responsible for it."
Aizen picked up the teacup, took a sip, and offered his blessings with a smile.
"Then I congratulate you in advance, Kisuke."
Aizen had no doubt that Urahara Kisuke could easily take the position of chief officer.
"Congratulations, Senior, since you like to hide your shortcomings, you probably won't graduate early. As for me, I will work harder in the year before your graduation and strive to have more say. When you graduate next year, I will directly nominate you and ask you to come to the second team to be my assistant."
Urahara Kisuke smiled kindly and refilled Aizen's tea.
"Then we can study together to our heart's content. Are you happy, Senior?"
Aizen looks down on "mediocrities" and does not trust friendship, so when Urahara Kisuke made his first move, he made full use of his friendship with Yoruichi and easily got the permission to build the research institute from Yoruichi's mother, as well as the qualification to become Aizen's boss in the future.
"Happy, Kisuke, of course I'm happy for you."
Aizen smiled gently, not feeling at all embarrassed about being demoted from a senior to a subordinate.
As for opponents, it’s interesting only when there is give and take.
Coincidentally, his first move should be almost ready.
Chapter 193 Reunion
"...Wow, fate is really something strange."
Looking at Yachukas opposite him, Gu Shi couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.
It had been almost two months since their last hunt for the sea star, during which time they had been searching for signs of other yachucas.
Unfortunately, the Hueco Mundo is still too vast. For two whole months, they did not encounter a single Achuka. Gu Shi even doubted whether he had made a wrong judgment. Achukas did not actually move on the ground, and he should go back to the underground Great Hollow Forest to look for prey.
Fortunately, just now, after two months, Ulquiorra finally discovered some suspicious spiritual power residues, so everyone hurriedly followed the traces of the spiritual power, and after a while of searching, they finally saw the long-awaited second Achukas.
As a result, Gu Shi saw the familiar antelope.
Originally, Erlang had already prepared to rush forward and fight. After all, he gave way to Gu Shi in the last battle, so it was his turn this time. But just as he was about to rush forward, he heard Gu Shi's sigh. He couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and his limbs unconsciously relaxed.
"acquaintance?"
"We only met once, but we got along well."
Erlang asked simply and Gu Shi answered simply. Hearing him say that, Erlang shook his tail helplessly and gave up the idea of fighting. Their degradation time was still early and there was no need to attack people they knew for the time being.
However, Erlang didn't pay much attention to the big antelope opposite him. If it was someone Gu Shi valued, Gu Shi would definitely say something like "candidate friend" when introducing him. Since he didn't say that, it was probably that they were just good friends.
At this time, seeing that Gu Shi and the others had no hostility, the big antelope on the opposite side also relaxed, carefully felt the breath of Gu Shi, and suddenly widened its eyes in surprise, and trotted over.
"Gu Shi, is that you? Have you evolved?"
"Haha, it's me, Nilu, you are still so beautiful, especially those horns, they are so gorgeous, can I touch them?"
Gu Shi also smiled and took a few steps closer, his hand slowly reaching towards the horns on Ni Lu's head.
He wanted to do this the last time they met, but he was just Killian at that time. Out of caution, he didn't dare to get too close to Yachukas. Now that he is also Yachukas, he must try to fulfill his wish.
It has to be said that Nel is definitely an outlier among the Hollows. After all, her horns are on her head. If other Hollows see someone reaching for their heads or masks, they will definitely choose to fight back without hesitation.
It seemed that Kanilu had no such sense of vigilance at all. When she heard Gu Shi praising her horns, she happily lowered her head and took the initiative to hand her big horns to Gu Shi.
Erlang, who was standing aside, looked at this scene and gritted his teeth, unable to bear to watch. Gu Shi's current posture was that of a mantis, and his hand was a sickle.
He took the initiative to offer his head to Daxu Dao, a person he had only met once. With this kind of personality, it is no wonder that Gu Shi did not think that he could become friends with him.
It’s too simple, so simple that it doesn’t seem like Daxu.
Gu Shi carefully stroked Ni Lu's big horn, being careful not to touch her mask, and couldn't help feeling a little surprised.
In fact, when he reached out his hand, he was already prepared to be rejected or even counterattacked. It would be better to say that he recklessly reached out to Nilu's head because he was actually expecting Nilu to attack him.
Just like he had said to Stark before, he didn't think he could be friends with Neelu. If that was the case, there was no need to maintain an overly friendly relationship, lest they would feel awkward when they met again in the future when their positions conflicted.
However, since Ni Lu's attitude was so friendly, so friendly that Gu Shi was embarrassed to show hostility, he hoped that his reckless behavior would make Ni Lu's attitude towards him worse, so that he could take the opportunity to cut off the relationship between the two parties and make it return to being "strangers" again.
But, Nilu is Nilu after all. When viewed from a distance, she has a cold temperament and is more like the holy and unapproachable unicorn in the legend than a gemsbok. But once you get close to her, you will find that she is really gentle and kind like a sheep.
When seeing a truly noble person, despicable people will unconsciously reflect on themselves. This is the meaning of the existence of a saint.
Ni Lu might not be considered a saint, and Gu Shi would not be considered despicable, but, as he stroked Ni Lu's horns and felt her trust, Gu Shi couldn't help but begin to reflect on himself, feeling a little guilty for his little thoughts just now.
"Ha, haha, this feeling is so wonderful, it's worthy of being Nilu's horn."
Feeling guilty, Gu Shi could only laugh dryly and cover up his embarrassment with praise. Then he put down his hand on Ni Lu's horn and took the initiative to change the subject.
"Come on, Nel, let me introduce my friends to you. This is Jiro, and this is Ulquiorra. We have known each other since the days of Kyon. Ul, Jiro, this is Nel. When I first met her, I was just Killian. Thanks to Nel for being kind enough not to kill me, otherwise you wouldn't be able to see me."
Ni Lu didn't notice what Gu Shi was thinking. She greeted Erlang and the others happily. Then she rubbed Gu Shi with her horns enviously and asked in a low voice.
"Gu Shi, you have so many friends. Can you tell me how you made them? I also want lots of friends."
Nel's question stumped Gu Shi. In a place like Hueco Mundo, it is very luxurious to seek a solid and reliable emotional relationship. After all, due to the lack of spirituality, most of the Hollows have abnormal personalities.
In the original plot of "Bleach", there are only a handful of Arrancar who have "friendship", and most of them are in a relationship of subordination and protection, such as Harribel and her three subordinates, and Grimmjow and his five subordinates.
In a barbaric place like Hueco Mundo where strength determines everything, the worship of "power" is inevitable. A stronger Hollow may have "friendship" with a lower Hollow, but even if a lower Hollow has a close relationship with a higher Hollow, they still only have respect, admiration and fanaticism.
Equal friendship is extremely rare among the Hollows. Perhaps only Stark and Lilinette, who are friends with themselves, can be considered a pair?
Yami and the little dog Xu, who has not yet acquired spiritual awareness, could perhaps be considered a pair?
Apart from that, the only ones who could be considered as friends were probably Nel and her two subordinates.
Even though the two subordinate officers had their masks stripped off and were so weak that they had to hide and survive, they never thought of abandoning Nel, who had turned into a child and was even weaker than them. They struggled to survive in Hueco Mundo with Nel.
Although Gu Shi had some feelings towards Ni Lu, he believed that he could not love Ni Lu unconditionally like the two subordinates did. So, even though he heard the hidden meaning in Ni Lu's words, that she hoped to work with them and become friends, he could only continue to play dumb.
"There is no secret to making friends. Just be patient, Nilu. As long as you keep hoping, one day you will find a partner you can trust with your life."
Gu Shi, this is the only answer I can give.
Chapter 194 Rare Species
The naive Nel failed to understand the subtle alienation in Gu Shi's words. She just thought that Gu Shi was really encouraging her and laughed happily, causing Jiro and Ulquiorra to look at her sideways.
In Hueco Mundo, wild laughter, bitter laughter, and crazy laughter are all very common, but this kind of laughter without any impurities and pure happiness is really rare. Listening to this laughter, Jilang even had the illusion that his soul was purified, and he couldn't help but want to go up and talk to him.
At this moment, Nnoitra finally caught up with them, panting. In order to prevent losing Yachukas, whom they had tracked down with great difficulty, Gu Shi and the others basically moved at full speed while conserving their combat strength. However, Nnoitra, who was a little confused, could not keep up with them at all and could only follow slowly from behind.
Seeing Noitra catching up, Gu Shi felt a little bit of mischief and dragged the little mantis in front of Nilu, then patted his head with a smile.
"This boy is Nnoitra Gilga, he is my apprentice, a boy with great potential. Gil, this is Nellielu, her full name is Nellielu du Odvanshuk, she is my senior."
After Gu Shi's introduction, the little mantis, who had been taught to be more polite recently, immediately took the initiative to say hello.
"Hello, Senior Nilu, you can just call me Jill like Master Gu Shi."
Seeing how respectful Nnoitra was to Nilu, a kind of happiness that only Gu Shi could understand arose spontaneously, making Gu Shi smile even more happily.
However, Gu Shi smiled happily, and Ni Lu, who was greeted respectfully by Noitra, was no less happy than him.
The main theme of Hueco Mundo has always been strength first. Oftentimes, the weak are not even considered life in the eyes of the strong. They are more like sand on the ground and dust in the air. Even if some of them are "eliminated" inadvertently, it is not worth worrying about. After a while, a gust of wind will blow and new sand and dust will be replenished.
Moreover, as the level of evolution increases, this contempt for the weak is also getting worse.
If in Killian's eyes, Xiaoxu was still a reptile at his feet, which was more or less a living creature, then in the eyes of Yachukas, Xiaoxu was really just air. When the old Yachukas was fighting fiercely, the amount of spirit particles contained in the turbid air he exhaled in a deep breath might be more than the entire body spiritual power of the new Xiaoxu.
This has led to the fact that, in the eyes of many Yachucas, the Void is actually "thin air with form", no different from a mirage in the desert, and not even worthy of being used to satisfy hunger.
Given such a huge gap, it is indeed a bit too much to ask them to treat Xiaoxu as their life, let alone treat Xiaoxu as an object with which they can communicate on an equal footing.