Recaps

Liu Ziyun helped Ichigo rescue Rukia, then revealed Aizen’s betrayal and prepared Soul Reapers and the Visored for the Arrancar threat. The arc left Ichigo resolved to grow stronger, while Liu warned that a future catastrophe would depend on him and Aizen.

• Liu Ziyun helped Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai prepare for Rukia Kuchiki’s execution, and Ichigo rescued her as Jūshirō Ukitake and Shunsui Kyōraku destroyed the Sōkyoku.
• Liu Ziyun pushed Ichigo and Byakuya Kuchiki into a full-strength duel, and Ichigo’s suppressed Hollow power emerged before Liu ended the fight.
• Aizen revealed that he had faked his death, removed the Hōgyoku from Rukia, and escaped through a Garganta with Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tōsen.
• Liu Ziyun told Rukia that Byakuya had kept his distance to protect her and helped organize preparations to defend Karakura Town from Aizen.
• Liu Ziyun brought Ichigo to Shinji Hirako and the Visored to learn to control his Hollow, while Soul Reapers arrived in Karakura Town to train.
• Liu Ziyun pushed Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa to confront their limits, then trained Tōshirō Hitsugaya until he exhausted his Bankai.
• Liu Ziyun warned the Visored that they and Yamamoto would lose in the coming battle and that their hope lay with Ichigo, while explaining that Aizen would be needed against a future catastrophe.
• Liu Ziyun left the Visored and returned to the Martial Arts Hall, while Ichigo returned home and resolved to become strong enough to protect his family.

After Aizen’s Arrancar attacked Karakura Town and abducted Orihime Inoue, Liu Ziyun organized a rescue mission and helped Ichigo Kurosaki confront his Hollow power. The group reached Hueco Mundo and headed toward a girl being pursued by Hollows.

• Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez attacked Ichigo Kurosaki in Karakura Town, but Liu Ziyun stopped Grimmjow and severed his sword arm before Kaname Tōsen took him away.
• Liu Ziyun trained Ichigo Kurosaki to accept his Hollow power, and Ichigo defeated White Ichigo in his Inner World before beginning to train with the Visoreds.
• Ulquiorra Cifer, Luppi Antenor, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, Yammy Llargo, and Wonderweiss Margela attacked Karakura Town while Liu Ziyun and the Soul Reapers fought them.
• Aizen’s Arrancar withdrew after taking Orihime Inoue, and Liu Ziyun secured Yamamoto’s approval for a rescue mission to Hueco Mundo.
• Liu Ziyun explained to Ichigo Kurosaki that Aizen had taken Orihime to lure him away and leave the World of the Living vulnerable, and Ichigo resolved to rescue her.
• Liu Ziyun led Ichigo Kurosaki, Yasutora Sado, Renji Abarai, and Rukia Kuchiki through the Garganta, where Ichigo and Renji struggled to make Reiatsu footholds.
• The group arrived in Hueco Mundo, and Liu Ziyun led them toward nearby ruins after sensing Reiatsu there.
• A green-haired girl in a worn cloak ran toward Liu Ziyun and the others while an enormous Beetle-like Hollow and two humanoid Hollows chased her.

Liu Ziyun guided the rescue party through Hueco Mundo, saved Rukia and Ichigo, and helped turn several Arrancar against Aizen. After Ichigo recovered, Liu led him and Unohana through a Garganta to Karakura Town, where the battle had taken a dangerous turn.

• Liu Ziyun reunited with Nel, stopped Ichigo Kurosaki and the others from killing Pesche and Dondochakka, and helped the group pass Runuganga and reach Hueco Mundo’s core.
• At the crossroads, Liu Ziyun healed Nel’s mask and sent her with Ichigo Kurosaki, while the others entered separate passages and Liu continued alone.
• Liu Ziyun confronted Cirucci Sanderwicci, then helped Renji Abarai escape Szayelaporro Granz’s trap before leaving to rescue Rukia Kuchiki from Aaroniero Arruruerie and Zommari Rureaux.
• Liu Ziyun brought Rukia to safety, watched Ichigo defeat Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, and stopped Nnoitra Gilga before Nel became Nelliel and fought him.
• Kenpachi Zaraki defeated Nnoitra, but Coyote Starrk abducted Orihime Inoue during a diversion, prompting Liu Ziyun to organize a rescue at Las Noches.
• Liu Ziyun found Ichigo near death after Ulquiorra Cifer pierced his chest, restrained Ulquiorra, and allowed Ichigo’s Hollow power to emerge before stopping Ichigo from killing him.
• Ichigo recovered as his Hollow power healed his chest, and Liu Ziyun persuaded Ulquiorra to help protect Hueco Mundo before Mayuri Kurotsuchi opened a Garganta to Karakura Town.
• Liu Ziyun, Ichigo, and Retsu Unohana arrived in Karakura Town as a giant Hollow released Gillians, while the Visored and Gotei 13 fought Aizen’s forces and Shūhei Hisagi struck down Kaname Tōsen.

Liu Ziyun defeated and helped seal Aizen, then prepared Soul Society for the coming Quincy invasion. In Muken, he confronted the limits of his power and used it to separate Yachiru from Zaraki while preserving their bond.

• Liu Ziyun revealed how he had hidden his strength and altered Aizen’s memories, then fought him with Life-Taker Tulu and overwhelmed him with Bankai.
• Liu Ziyun changed fate to evade Kyouka Suigetsu, severed Aizen’s ability to evolve, and helped Kisuke Urahara seal him.
• Liu Ziyun warned Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai about Yhwach and the Wandenreich, then urged preparations that included countering Bankai theft and allying with Hollows.
• Liu Ziyun entered Muken to control his unstable power and discovered a woman sealed inside a giant egg in his Inner World, who restored Life-Taker Tulu but denied him access to Bankai.
• The Zero Division rejected Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai’s request to train several Soul Reapers and ordered Liu Ziyun to join them, but Liu refused and focused on preparing Zaraki and Yachiru.
• Liu Ziyun explained that Yachiru had emerged from Zaraki’s power, and Zaraki chose her continued existence over awakening his Zanpakuto.
• With help from the woman in his Inner World, Liu Ziyun separated Yachiru from Zaraki while preserving their ability to merge, then collapsed from the effort.