The Supreme Soul, Starting with Death

If Gu Shi wasn't exaggerating, life has existed for hundreds of millions of years in a time unknown to humankind, constantly competing and evolving, with each era being incredibly magnificent.

Even if we could go back to the past, which era would we go back to? We can't possibly spend hundreds of millions of years in the past.

"Senior, instead of being disappointed by not being able to witness the past, let's look to the future. As long as we are strong enough, we can witness the world for thousands, tens of thousands of years, or even more years to come."

As he spoke, Kisuke Urahara raised his head, gazing up at the blue sky where the stars had not yet appeared, his eyes filled with longing.

Aizen lamented not being able to witness the world that had passed away, and so did he. But it didn't matter; among the stars, there were many more magnificent worlds waiting for him to discover and witness.

Accepting Gu Shi's invitation was indeed the right choice. The infinitely vast and wonderful world is right there. If we can't witness it with our own eyes, wouldn't it be a waste to have come to this world?

Aizen also recalled Gu Shi's "prophecy": In the vast starry sky, there are hundreds of millions of "worlds". What would those worlds look like?

For a moment, Aizen couldn't help but feel a sense of longing.

"...Let's go, Kisuke, it's time to go back."

In the brief silence, Aizen quickly composed himself, dusted off his hands, and felt no lingering attachment to the skeletons at his feet or to everything that had passed away.

It is foreseeable that there are more skeletons hidden in the strata, but there is no need to continue digging.

It would be enough if Gu Shi's "prophecy" were verified, confirming that remnants of ancient life were indeed buried underground, and confirming that there were indeed magnificent eras before humankind.

Kisuke Urahara also stood up and nodded slightly.

"When I get back, I'm going to research a device that can convert matter into spirit particles. Then I can bring these skeletons back to Soul Society and decorate my laboratory."

Aizen thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

"Good idea, I can help."

"Okay, let's cooperate then."

Both recognized each other's talent, and in just a few words, they agreed on the details of their collaboration. Then, they opened the portal and returned to Soul Society.

The next day, astonishing news began to spread like wildfire throughout the True Spiritual Arts Academy.

Kisuke Urahara, the freshman who kept taking leave after enrolling and whose total class time added up to less than a week, applied for early graduation!

For a time, Kisuke Urahara became the focus of the entire school.

It's important to understand that graduating early isn't something you can just apply for whenever you want. To prevent students from misunderstanding their background and submitting applications arbitrarily, thus wasting the Seireitei's resources, the Shinigami teachers conduct a preliminary assessment before each application. They confirm that the student applying meets the graduation standards in all four major disciplines—sword, fist, and demon walking—as well as academic subjects, before approving the application to be submitted.

Since Kisuke Urahara was able to successfully submit his application, it means that he has proven himself to the teachers and has reached the level of a sixth-grade graduate.

Although the final assessment for early graduation will definitely be more difficult than the regular graduation assessment, and Kisuke Urahara may not be able to pass it smoothly, the fact that he was able to submit the application is enough to prove that he has surpassed more than 90% of the current students at Shinsengumi.

How could the students not be shocked?

While the students of Shinsengumi were making a noisy discussion, in an empty classroom, Kisuke Urahara, who was being talked about by everyone, was pouring tea for his beloved senior with a big smile.

"Senior, we agreed to do collaborative research yesterday, but after thinking about it, I realized that the labs I have are too rudimentary. So, for better collaboration, I'll graduate early."

"Next, I will join the Second Division. Yoruichi's mother has already agreed that if I can win more than ten seats within a week after joining the division, she will agree to set up a research institute in the name of the division, which I will be in charge of."

Aizen picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and offered his blessings with a smile.

"Then I congratulate you in advance, Kisuke."

Aizen had no doubt that Kisuke Urahara could easily seize the position of seated officer.

"Same to you, same to you. Senior likes to hide his talents so much, he probably won't graduate early. As for me, I'll work hard in this year before he graduates to gain more influence, so that when he graduates next year, I can directly request him to come to the Second Division to be my assistant."

Kisuke Urahara smiled kindly and refilled Aizen's teacup once more.

"Then we can do our research together to our hearts' content. Are you excited, senior?"

Aizen looked down on "mediocre people" and distrusted friendship. Therefore, Urahara Kisuke made his first move by making full use of his friendship with Yoruichi to easily obtain permission from Yoruichi's mother to build a research institute and the qualification to become Aizen's superior in the future.

"I'm happy for you, Kisuke. Of course I'm happy for you."

Aizen smiled gently, showing no sign of distress at being demoted from a senior to a subordinate.

An opponent is only interesting if there's a back-and-forth exchange.

Coincidentally, his first move should have been almost ready by then.

Chapter 193 Reunion

"...Wow, fate is such a wonderful thing."

Looking at Adjuchas opposite him, Gu Shi couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

It has been almost two months since their last hunt for the giant starfish, during which time they have been searching for other Adjuchas.

Unfortunately, Hueco Mundo was still too vast. For two whole months, they didn't encounter a single Adjuchas, which made Gu Shi wonder if he had made a mistake and that the Adjuchas didn't actually roam the surface, and that he should go back to the Great Hollow Forest underground to find prey.

Fortunately, just now, after two months, Ulquiorra finally discovered some questionable remnants of spiritual energy. So everyone quickly followed the traces of spiritual energy and, after a search, finally met the long-awaited second Adjuchas.

As a result, Gu Shi saw the familiar antelope.

Erlang was originally prepared to rush up and fight, after all, the last battle was given to Gu Shi, and this time it should be his turn. But just as he was about to rush up, he heard Gu Shi's sigh, and he couldn't help but be stunned. His limbs unconsciously relaxed.

"acquaintance?"

"We met only once, but we got along quite well."

Erlang's question was concise, and Gu Shi's answer was equally simple. Hearing this, Erlang wagged his tail helplessly and gave up the idea of ​​fighting. Their regression time limit was still far off, and there was no need to attack someone they knew for the time being.

However, Erlang didn't pay much attention to the antelope opposite him. If it were someone Gu Shi valued, Gu Shi would definitely have said something like "candidate for friend" when introducing them. Since he didn't say that, it probably just meant that they really got along well.

Seeing that Gu Shi and his group had no hostility, the antelope opposite them relaxed and carefully sensed the aura emanating from Gu Shi. It then widened its eyes in surprise and trotted over to him.

"Gu Shi, is that you? You've evolved?"

"Haha, it's me, Nilu. You're still so beautiful, especially those horns, they're so gorgeous. May I touch them?"

Gu Shi smiled and took a few steps closer, slowly reaching his hand towards the horns on Nilu's head.

He had wanted to do this when they last met, but back then he was just a Kyrian and, out of caution, he didn't dare get too close to Adjuchas. Now that he was Adjuchas himself, he had to try to fulfill his wish.

It has to be said that Nel is definitely an anomaly among the Hollows. After all, horns grow on her head. If other Hollows saw someone reaching for their head or mask, they would definitely fight back without hesitation.

Connelly seemed completely unguarded. Hearing Gu Shi praise her horns, she happily lowered her head and offered her large horns to Gu Shi.

Erlang, watching this scene from the side, couldn't bear to look at it and bared his teeth. Gu Shi's current posture was that of a praying mantis, with his hands like scythes.

It's no wonder Gu Shi doesn't think he can become friends with someone who willingly offers his own head to Da Xu, whom he's only met once.

Too naive, too naive for someone like Hollow.

Gu Shi carefully stroked Nilu's large horns, being careful not to touch Nilu's mask, and couldn't help but feel a little surprised.

In fact, when he reached out, he was already prepared to be rejected, or even to be retaliated against. Rather, his reckless reaching for Nilu's head was actually an expectation that Nilu would attack him.

Just like he told Stark before, he didn't think he could be friends with Nel. Since that was the case, there was no need to maintain an overly friendly relationship, lest they feel awkward when they met again in the future when their positions clashed.

However, because Nilu's attitude was so friendly that Gu Shi was embarrassed to show hostility, he hoped that his rash actions would make Nilu's attitude towards him worse, so that he could take the opportunity to cut ties and make their relationship return to that of "strangers".

However, Nel is Nel after all. From a distance, she has a cool and aloof demeanor, more like a legendary, unapproachable unicorn than a giant antelope. But once you get close to her, you'll find that she is truly gentle and kind, just like a sheep.

When people encounter truly noble individuals, even the most base ones will unconsciously reflect on their own behavior; this is the significance of the existence of sages.

Nilu may not be a saint, and Gu Shi is not despicable, but as he stroked Nilu's horns and felt her trust, Gu Shi couldn't help but reflect on himself and felt a little guilty for his petty thoughts just now.

"Haha, this feel is just wonderful, no wonder it's Nel's horn."

Feeling guilty, Gu Shi could only laugh awkwardly, using praise to cover up his embarrassment. Then, he took the opportunity to lower his hand from Nilu's horn and change the subject.

"Come, come, Nel, let me introduce you to my friends. This is Jiro, and this is Ulquiorra. We've been friends since our Hollow days. Ulquiorra, Jiro, this is Nel. When I first met her, I was just a Killian. Luckily, Nel was kind enough not to kill me, otherwise you wouldn't be able to see me now."

Nilu, unaware of Gu Shi's thoughts, happily greeted Erlang and the others, then rubbed her horns against Gu Shi with great envy, and whispered a question.

"Gu Shi, you have so many friends! Can you tell me how you made so many friends? I want to have lots and lots of friends too."

Nilu's question stumped Gu Shi. In a place like Hueco Mundo, seeking a solid and reliable emotional relationship is a luxury. After all, due to their emotional deficiencies, most of the Hollows have somewhat abnormal personalities.

In the original Bleach storyline, there are very few Arrancar who have "friendship". Most of them have a subordinate and protective relationship, such as Haribel and her three subordinates, or Grimmjow and his five subordinates.

In Hueco Mundo, a barbaric land where strength determines everything, the worship of "power" is inevitable. A higher-ranking Hollow might feel "friendship" towards a lower-ranking Hollow, but a lower-ranking Hollow's relationship with a higher-ranking Hollow, even if close, is mostly one of respect, worship, and fanaticism.

Equal friendship is extremely rare among the Hollows; perhaps only Stark and Lilynette, who are friends with themselves, can be considered a pair.

Yammy and that little dog, Hollow, who doesn't yet possess sentience, could perhaps be considered a pair?

Aside from that, the only people who could truly be considered friends were Nel and her two subordinates.

Even after their masks were removed and they were so weak that they had to hide and eke out a living, the two subordinate officers never thought of abandoning Nel, who had become a child and was even weaker than them. They struggled to survive in Hueco Mundo with Nel.

Although Gu Shi had some affection for Nilu, he knew he couldn't love her unconditionally like the two subordinates. So, even though he understood the hidden meaning in Nilu's words—that she hoped to act with them and become friends—he could only continue to play dumb.

"There's no secret to making friends. Just be patient, Nilu. As long as you keep hoping, one day you'll find someone you can entrust your life to."

Gu Shi could only answer in this way.

Chapter 194 Rare Species

The naive Nel didn't understand the subtle distance in Gu Shi's words. She thought Gu Shi was really encouraging her and laughed out loud, which made Jiro and Ulquiorra turn their heads slightly.

In Hueco Mundo, laughter, bitter laughter, and maniacal laughter are all common, but this kind of pure, unadulterated laughter is truly rare. Jiro, upon hearing this laughter, even had the illusion that his soul was being purified, and couldn't help but want to go up and strike up a conversation.

Just then, Nnoitra finally caught up, panting heavily. In order to prevent losing Adjuchas, whom they had finally managed to track down, Gu Shi and the others had been moving at full speed while conserving their combat stamina. However, Nnoitra, the Hollow, could not keep up with them at all and could only follow slowly behind.

Seeing Neutra catch up, Gu Shi got a little mischievous and grabbed the little mantis in front of Nel, then patted its head with a smile.

"This kid is Nnoitra Gilga, you could say he's my apprentice, a very promising young fellow. Gilga, this is Nel, full name Nelliel du Odvanshuk, she's my senior."

After Gu Shi introduced him, the little mantis, who had recently been taught to be more polite, immediately took the initiative to greet him.

"Hello, Nel, you can just call me Gil, just like you do, Lord Gu Shi."

Seeing Neutra's respect for Nilu, a joy that only Gu Shi could understand welled up within him, making him smile even more happily.

However, while Gu Shi was laughing happily, Nilu, who was being respectfully greeted by Neutra, was no less happy than him.

The main theme of Hueco Mundo has always been the supremacy of power. In many cases, the weak are not even considered as life in the eyes of the strong, but rather as grains of sand on the ground or dust in the air. Even if some are "eliminated" unintentionally, it is not worth caring, because after a while, a gust of wind will blow and new grains of sand or dust will be replenished.

Furthermore, as the level of evolution increases, this contempt for the weak also intensifies.

If in the eyes of the Killian, the Hollow was still a crawling insect at his feet, at least a living thing, then in the eyes of the Adjuchas, the Hollow was truly just air. When an old Adjuchas was fighting fiercely, the amount of spiritual energy contained in the turbid air he exhaled in a single deep breath was probably more than the spiritual energy of the newly born Hollow in its entire body.

This leads to the fact that, in the eyes of many Adjuchas, the Hollows are actually just "thin air with a physical form," no different from a mirage in the desert, not even good enough to fill one's stomach.

Given such a huge disparity in abilities, it's really asking too much of them to regard Xu as their life, let alone to see Xu as someone they can communicate with on an equal footing.