In the blink of an eye, half a year has passed.
In the auditorium, Xia Yan stood in the queue with a calm expression, waiting for the official award of the Zanpakutō.
After finishing his fourth grade studies, Xia Yan applied directly for graduation and was approved.
Today is the graduation ceremony for all graduates and the formal awarding ceremony of Zanpakutō.
Not all of them can graduate. Some died during the three-year internship, some did not meet the requirements for graduation, and some were not selected into the squad.
Only three-fifths of students in a grade can graduate, and the other two-fifths will have their Zanpakutō taken away and have no contact with the Shinigami.
Xia Yan waited quietly. In this half year, Xia Yan's strength also gradually increased.
In the second half of the semester, Xia Yan devoted more energy to the ghost path. He first learned the elementary breaking path and the elementary binding path. The more useful one is the binding path twenty-one red smoke escape, which releases a huge red smoke screen to cover his own. Body shape is Kichiyo Ohmaeda's specialty.
There are also twenty-six curves of light that cover objects, making them invisible to others.
In the Thirty Years of Binding Dao, the mouth suddenly flashes three times, releasing three huge beak-shaped beams, fixing the opponent's waist and hands to the object, restricting the enemy's movement.
There is only one month left in the third grade to learn elementary ghost ways. Xia Yan can only learn some practical intermediate breaking ways and binding ways.
For example, the Thirty-One Red Fire Cannon of Breaking the Way shoots out a huge ball of fire, which is extremely fast, has both impact and extremely high temperature.
The Red Fire Cannon is also the most used broken path among the Shinigami, and its power and difficulty are both suitable.
In addition, there are also the thirty-two yellow fire flashes of Po Dao and the high flame shooting. The Thirty-Three Blue Fire Pendants of Po Dao, a blue explosive fire attack. The Fifty-Eight Khotan Lan of the Broken Path shoots a huge tornado at the enemy and so on.
These are the more practical intermediate-level broken paths, and there are also some bound paths, such as the Thirty-Seven Hanging Stars of the Binding Path, which use spiritual power to make a hammock in the air to help people who fall.
The Thirty-nine Round Gate Fans of Binding Dao, the original protective shield, and the Fifty-Eight Slapping Toes Chasing Bird of Binding Dao are used to sense the enemy's spiritual pressure and track the enemy.
These ghost ways are enough for Xia Yan to deal with ordinary Xuhe tasks.
. . .
After the graduation ceremony, Xia Yan slowly walked out of the auditorium and stood in a daze outside the auditorium. A voice rang in his ears, "Xia Yan, this way."
Natsuhiko raised his head and looked into the distance, where Abarai Renji, Rukia and the other five people were standing.
"Brother Renji, sister Rukia"
Natsuhiko hurriedly walked over and came to their side. He was directly held in Renji Abarai's arms, rubbed his head desperately and said, "Congratulations on your graduation."
During this year in the secret mobile unit, Xia Yan spent less time with them, but every time he received his salary, he would get together with a few people and maintain their friendship.
Lucia looked at Xia Yan, took out a package, and said, "This is a gift for you."
"Thanks."
As soon as Natsuhiko thanked him and took it, Abarai Renji said: "Rukia, why didn't you tell me that you prepared a gift so that I could prepare one too."
Lucia said angrily: "Isn't it necessary to prepare gifts? Do you need others to tell you?"
"Of course they are needed. Don't you think they are the same? You have all prepared gifts." Abarai Renji looked at the people who took out the gifts with an extremely helpless expression.
Kira Izuru gave Natsuhiko a pen and said, "This pen is for you."
Kondo Isamu gave Natsuhiko a kunai and said: "I heard that the secret mobile unit is good at assassination, so I will give you this kunai."
Hinamori Momo gave Xia Yan a sunny doll and said with a smile: "I hope your day will be sunny."
"Thanks."
Xia Yan took all these things and put them away properly.
Lucia smiled and said: "There is also mine, please open it quickly."
Xia Yan nodded and opened the package sent by Lucia. Inside was a silver-white necklace with a silver heart as the pendant.
Lucia explained: "This is to hope that you will never forget your heart at any time."
Xia Yan hung the pendant around his neck and said with a smile, "I will always wear it."
Abarai Renji said with a smile: "Since you have all prepared gifts and I have not prepared any, then I will treat you to dinner."
The six of them went to the food court and found a wine shop to celebrate Xia Yan's graduation.
"cheers."
Everyone raised their wine glasses, and just when Xia Yan was about to take the wine glass, he was stopped again.
Abarai Renji said: "You are too young to drink."
Xia Yan was very helpless when he heard this. Even though he had graduated, they still regarded him as a child.
But he is indeed not very old. Counting one year in Rukongai, he is still less than fourteen years old.
Xia Yan could only pick up the juice and said: "Cheers."
Everyone drank the wine in one gulp, and Renji Abarai said with a smile: "Natsuhiko graduated in only two years. It's really amazing. It hasn't happened in a few years, right?"
The most recent leapfrog can be traced back to fifty or sixty years ago, when a boy named Gin Ichimaru completed the six-year course in one year.
Although Xia Yan was inferior, he was still horrified after completing six years of study in two years.
Of course, Hisagi Shuhei would have shined in the first place. In the sixth grade, he would have been scrambled by the division and recruited in advance. He was a genius that had not been seen for several years.
But in front of Xia Yan, his halo will fade away.
However, in three years' time, a talented young man will enter the Zhenou Spiritual Arts Academy and graduate in just one year. After entering the squad, he will have three seats. He will master the swastika within thirty years and take over as captain.
This man is the most talented person in the history of Seireitei. His appearance can completely cover up Xia Yan's limelight.
For Xia Yan, this would be something he was looking forward to extremely. Joining the secret mobile force was to reduce the attention of others. If he could overshadow the limelight and draw attention away, he would avoid being noticed by others as much as possible.
Natsuhiko didn't want to be noticed by Aizen and become the object of his observation before he grew up.
Once targeted by him, even a captain-level figure cannot detect it and can only be played around with applause.
Lucia smiled and said: "And Xia Yan was recruited in advance, and we will only enter the third grade next year."
Several others felt deeply frustrated. Their efforts were insignificant in the face of Xia Yan's talent.
Xia Yan smiled and said: "But you will always enter the squad, and I will wait for you in the squad."
Renji Abarai heard this and said with a smile: "You are right, we will also enter the squad, and all members of our Abarai team will become Shinigami."
"Why are we called Team Abarai?" Kira Izuru asked.
Renji Abarai said proudly: "Because I am the eldest brother."
Rukia interjected: "But the name is terrible."
"What did you say?"
Renji Abarai and Rukia glared at each other, and the two started arguing again.
Several other people laughed, and the banquet was very lively.
But no matter what, it cannot change the fact of separation. Xia Yan will see them again in the future, but most of the time, he will be alone.
Of course, he will also meet new friends. Life is not always the same. There will always be separation along the way. Xia Yan knows that welcoming him will be a brand new life.