Festival of Lights · Diwali
A nameless young man swept into Soul Society became Yexing Hu under Fon Shaoling’s care and trained to join the Soul Reapers. After awakening Jiku'a to save Shimizu from a Hollow transformation, Hu passed his assessment and resolved to keep pursuing his duties.
Yexing Hu trained, confessed his feelings to Fon Shaoling, and helped her uncover the Hollowfication Experiment. The operation against its creators became a battle at the Fon Residence, where Hu learned Shaoling was Soi Fon and fought beside her against Hongming.
Yexing Hu joined the Second Division and the Feimou Corps while training with Urahara, Yoruichi, and Tessai in Karakura Town and the Dangai. After Aizen identified Rukia as his target, Hu defeated the Beast of Light within his Inner World and claimed the true Beowulf Armament.
Hu mastered Bankai while preparing to save Rukia, as Ichigo and the Ryoka invaded Soul Society and the lieutenants began questioning the execution and Central 46. Hu joined the Ryoka’s escape, while Aizen’s deception and Gin’s uncertain plans remained unresolved.
As Aizen’s scheme to seize the Hōgyoku turned the execution of Rukia into a battle across Soul Society, Hu and the Ryoka fought to stop him. Hu vanished after confronting the Hollow Beast, but signs that he survived left his return uncertain.
Sylvan and Rain joined the Soul Reapers in resisting Muramasa’s rebellion and helped Ichigo reclaim Zangetsu. As Muramasa sought Jiku'a in the Twelfth Division, the Soul Reapers began confronting their own Zanpakuto and learned that recovering their Shikai depended on their Soul Pulses returning to normal.
Ichigo and the Soul Reapers fought Muramasa’s forces as the Zanpakuto recovered their bonds with their masters, while Sylvan reunited more fragments of his soul and learned what Rook embodied. The arc ended with Jiku'a and Muramasa preparing to leave for the World of the Living, while Rangiku and Gin formed a Soul Link.