Chapter Summaries

Liu Ziyun emerged from his inner world with his Zanpakuto’s first signs of recognition and released Life-Taker and Tulu into two swords. After escaping the collapsing training ground, he rushed to Shin'ō Academy, where he was caught arriving late to Kidō class.

• Tulu and Life-Taker laughed about Liu Ziyun’s ambition and said they expected him to earn their recognition before long.
• Liu Ziyun awoke in the underground training ground, saw the barrier failing, and resolved to keep growing until his Zanpakuto accepted him.
• Liu Ziyun spoke the release words and transformed his Zanpakuto into two swords, one for Life-Taker and one for Tulu.
• Liu Ziyun estimated that his Reiatsu had reached roughly Lieutenant level, then realized he was late for Headmaster Yamamoto’s class.
• Liu Ziyun escaped as the barrier collapsed, hurried to Shin'ō Academy, and was confronted by the strict Kidō instructor as his roommates watched.

Liu Ziyun’s instructor noticed that his Asauchi had become a Zanpakuto and urged him to improve his combat skills despite his promised place in the Fourth Division. Liu Ziyun’s Sōkatsui struck its target with unexpected accuracy, leaving him determined to grow strong enough to fight alongside Life-Taker and Tulu.

• The instructor spotted Liu Ziyun’s transformed Zanpakuto and advised him to try sword meditation to gain his Shikai’s recognition.
• The instructor reminded Liu Ziyun to develop his swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, movement, and Kidō so he could protect himself on missions.
• The instructor questioned Liu Ziyun’s weak ordinary Kidō despite his skill with healing Kidō, and wondered whether he was hiding his abilities.
• Liu Ziyun cast Hadō #33: Sōkatsui and hit a target fifty meters away, surprising the other students.
• Liu Ziyun suspected his improved Kidō came from his Shikai or the power of Life-Taker and Tulu, then resolved to keep training so he could fight alongside them.

During his sixth year at Shin'ō Academy, Liu Ziyun kept hiding his strength while enduring harsh training with Tulu and finding comfort in conversations with Life-Taker. The academy then began grouping students for mock battles that would affect their graduation evaluations and division assignments.

• Liu Ziyun sparred with Tulu in his inner world and was swiftly defeated, but he believed he had begun to understand Tulu's attack.
• Liu Ziyun chatted with Life-Taker about hiding his abilities at the academy while Tulu trained by chopping away at a mountain.
• Tulu caught Liu Ziyun visiting Life-Taker, kicked him out of the inner world, and showed a gentler grip than before.
• Liu Ziyun started his sixth academic year at Shin'ō Academy, where students were assigned to mock-battle teams whose results would affect graduation evaluations and future division assignments.

Liu Ziyun struggled to choose a team for the mock trials until Tsunayashiro Shigure tried to force him to join his team. Captain Unohana intervened and challenged Shigure’s authority, leaving him cornered.

• Students crowded around Liu Ziyun, hoping to team up with him because of his Kaidō skills and connection to the Fourth Division.
• Tsunayashiro Shigure demanded that Liu Ziyun join his team and threatened him when he refused.
• Liu Ziyun claimed that the Fourth Division had given him an urgent mission, but Shigure insulted him and threatened to make him disappear from the Seireitei.
• Captain Unohana arrived and confronted Shigure, asking whether Liu Ziyun should obey her or the Tsunayashiro Clan.
• Shigure tried to dismiss the matter as small, but Unohana reminded him that he was not the Captain-Commander and began to offer him another choice.

Unohana protected Liu Ziyun from Tsunayashiro Shigure’s threats, then took him back to the Fourth Division Barracks, where he cooked Sichuan Boiled Pork for her. Shigure continued plotting revenge, unaware that Unohana had noticed his intentions and that Liu Ziyun had powerful allies.

• Unohana’s killing intent frightened the students when Tsunayashiro Shigure insulted the Fourth Division, but Liu Ziyun calmed her by offering to cook for her.
• Liu Ziyun led Unohana away from the training ground, while Shigure silently vowed revenge against them.
• Unohana sensed Shigure’s murderous thoughts and gave him a fleeting, intimidating look that left him pale and shuddering.
• At the Fourth Division Barracks, Liu Ziyun cooked Sichuan Boiled Pork, and Unohana reassured him that Shigure would not be a problem.
• Unohana told Liu Ziyun that sometimes he needed to let people know who backed him, and he understood that she was protecting him.
• As night fell, Liu Ziyun’s reputation at the academy began to change, while the Zanpakuto at his waist trembled faintly.

After Unohana warned Liu Ziyun that Tsunayashiro Shigure might retaliate against his friends, Liu warned Shinji Hirako, who gathered Love Aikawa and Kensei Muguruma to prepare for the coming trial. The friends also realized Liu was likely concealing considerable strength, and they ended by planning how to stay alert.

• Over dinner, Liu Ziyun agreed with Unohana that Tsunayashiro Shigure might target his friends and decided to warn Shinji Hirako and the others.
• Liu Ziyun told Shinji Hirako that Tsunayashiro Shigure might retaliate against them during the simulated trial, and Shinji promised to alert Love Aikawa and Kensei Muguruma.
• Shinji Hirako gathered Love Aikawa and Kensei Muguruma, and they discussed the danger posed by the nobles and resolved to stay prepared.
• Love Aikawa and Shinji Hirako pointed out that Liu Ziyun seemed far stronger and more capable than he appeared, prompting Kensei Muguruma to question whether Liu had let him win their spars.
• Shinji Hirako, Love Aikawa, and Kensei Muguruma began discussing how to prepare for the upcoming trial.

A mock trial at Shin'ō Academy turned into a deadly ambush when coordinated, unusually powerful Hollows trapped the squads and cut off their communications. Shinji Hirako organized the survivors to defend themselves as Liu Ziyun sensed something was wrong at the Fourth Division Barracks.

• Kensei Muguruma complained about the mock trials, while Shinji Hirako, Love Aikawa, and Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi urged him to fight more carefully before their squads entered the Trial Grounds.
• Shinji Hirako's squad split up to search Area 3, but group members' life signs began disappearing, and four groups lost contact.
• Survivors returned to the gathering point with casualties and injuries, and Kensei Muguruma reported that the Hollows had left Reiatsu at least at Menos Grande level.
• Shinji Hirako and the others realized the Hollows were hunting them in coordination and that communications with the instructors had been cut off.
• Shinji Hirako ordered the survivors into a defensive formation as many Hollows converged on them.
• At the Fourth Division Barracks, Liu Ziyun felt a foreboding sense that Shinji Hirako, Kensei Muguruma, Love Aikawa, and Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi were in danger and vowed not to spare Tsunayashiro Shigure if he was responsible.

Liu Ziyun learned that Shinji Hirako, Love Aikawa, Kensei Muguruma, and Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi had lost contact during a trial, and suspected that Tsunayashiro Shigure’s faction had arranged a deliberate attack. He devised a politically calculated rescue plan, and Unohana prepared to seek the Captain-Commander’s help.

• Tazawa Kentarō told Liu Ziyun that four teams, including Shinji Hirako’s, Love Aikawa’s, Kensei Muguruma’s, and Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi’s, had lost contact in the Trial Grounds.
• Liu Ziyun suspected that someone had introduced a dangerous threat or tampered with the Trial Grounds, and accused Tsunayashiro Shigure’s faction of planning a hunt against promising commoner students.
• Liu Ziyun instructed Tazawa Kentarō to ask Unohana to enlist captains from both commoner-aligned and noble-background Divisions in the rescue, so the noble faction would share responsibility.
• Unohana agreed to approach the Captain-Commander and ordered Tazawa Kentarō to take Liu Ziyun to the Trial Grounds entrance to await the rescue team.

Unohana briefed four captains and Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto about the disappearance of four commoner teams in the Trial Grounds, suspecting a noble plot aimed at testing the Seireitei’s response. Yamamoto ordered Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake to lead a rescue, leaving them aware that the mission could also challenge the nobles’ growing influence.

• Unohana told Kamikawa Rensuke, Obana Danjirō, Kotsubaki Jin'emon, and Kumenoi Entetsu that the four commoner teams had vanished while the six noble teams remained safe, and proposed that the four other divisions help organize a rescue.
• Unohana told Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto that Tsunayashiro Shigure was likely a decoy and warned that the nobles might sacrifice him to protect the mastermind.
• Unohana explained that Liu Ziyun was far stronger and more skilled in Kidō than he pretended, and Yamamoto asked her to bring him to meet him.
• Yamamoto convened the captains and ordered an immediate rescue for the four missing teams in the Trial Grounds.
• Kamikawa Rensuke proposed that the Sixth, Eighth, Tenth, and Thirteenth Divisions carry out the rescue, and Unohana, Obana Danjirō, Kotsubaki Jin'emon, and Kumenoi Entetsu agreed.
• Yamamoto appointed Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake to lead the rescue, and Ukitake suggested their teacher also wanted to rein in the nobles.

Liu Ziyun joined Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake’s rescue operation in the Trial Grounds, where Gillian-class Menos Grande were attacking the missing students. After revealing that his Zanpakuto could heal severe wounds, he helped Shunsui defeat another Menos Grande and continued searching for the remaining squads.

• Unohana asked Shunsui Kyōraku to take Liu Ziyun into the Trial Grounds, and Shunsui warned him to stay close.
• Shunsui’s group found Shinji Hirako and six or seven others surrounded by two Gillian-class Menos Grande, and Shunsui quickly defeated both Hollows.
• Liu Ziyun released Life-Taker and healed Shinji Hirako and the other injured students, exhausting much of his Reiatsu.
• Shunsui left four Eighth Division members to escort the rescued students back, then continued the search with Liu Ziyun.
• The rescue team found Kensei Muguruma down and four injured students facing a Gillian; Liu Ziyun and Shunsui blocked its Cero, then Liu staggered it with Sōkatsui and Shunsui killed it.

Liu Ziyun helped Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake rescue the remaining teams, healing the wounded while conserving his dwindling Reiatsu. Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake recognized that Liu Ziyun was hiding his abilities, and the rescue operation neared its end as he feared his quiet life was over.

• Liu Ziyun healed Kensei Muguruma and four other squad members, then Shunsui Kyōraku took him to search for the other teams while the rest escorted the wounded back.
• At the third battlefield, Liu Ziyun healed Love Aikawa and five others while Jūshirō Ukitake watched them fight a Menos Grande, which Shunsui Kyōraku then helped defeat.
• Jūshirō Ukitake reported that Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi's team had eight injured survivors, and he and Shunsui Kyōraku led the group to join them.
• Liu Ziyun treated Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi's injured squad with ordinary Kaidō and explained that using Heal consumed too much Spiritual Power, while concealing that he had mastered Wound Severance.
• Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake suspected Liu Ziyun was hiding his strength and said his healing ability suited frontline work, while Liu Ziyun worried about being watched as the exit drew near.

After the rescue, Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake reported Liu Ziyun’s unusual abilities to Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, who ordered a chance to test him. At the Fourth Division, Unohana confronted Liu Ziyun about how much strength he had revealed, and he insisted she already knew everything.

• Liu Ziyun followed Unohana back to the Fourth Division and nervously tried to ease the tension as she hinted she wanted to study him by cutting him open.
• Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake discussed Liu Ziyun’s feats and questioned whether he was truly an ordinary student.
• Shunsui Kyōraku reported Liu Ziyun’s healing Zanpakuto, powerful Kidō, and unusual Reiatsu to Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, who ordered Unohana to bring him in for a test.
• Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake suspected Liu Ziyun was hiding his abilities to avoid attracting noble attention, then headed to the Fourth Division to visit him and discuss Ukitake’s illness.
• Unohana confronted Liu Ziyun about his Shikai, Reiatsu, Kidō, and Shunpo, but he claimed she already knew about them because he had never hidden them from her.

Unohana questioned Liu Ziyun about his hidden abilities, but a Tsunayashiro branch-family head interrupted to apologize for Tsunayashiro Shigure’s actions. Unohana accepted the apology and declared the matter closed after the family presented Shigure’s severed head.

• Unohana challenged Liu Ziyun to explain his stalled Reiatsu, Kidō, Shunpo, and unused Zanpakuto ability, and he made excuses to conceal his strength.
• Kiyōnosuke Yamada announced that a Tsunayashiro branch-family head had arrived to apologize, accompanied by Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake.
• Unohana brought Liu Ziyun to the reception room, where Tsunayashiro Sōichirō presented Tsunayashiro Shigure’s severed head as proof of punishment.
• Unohana asked Liu Ziyun what he thought, but he passed the decision to Kyōraku and Ukitake, who deferred to Unohana.
• Unohana accepted Tsunayashiro Sōichirō’s apology and ended the matter.

Tsunayashiro Sōichirō tried to recruit Liu Ziyun for the Shin'ō Institute of Medicines, provoking Unohana's restrained fury. After Sōichirō left, Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake went to report the incident to Captain-Commander Yamamoto, while Liu Ziyun followed Unohana.

• Tsunayashiro Sōichirō invited Liu Ziyun to join the Shin'ō Institute of Medicines, but Liu refused and pledged to serve Unohana after graduation.
• Tsunayashiro Sōichirō then asked Unohana to arrange Liu Ziyun's transfer, and Unohana partially drew her sword before warning that she would report the matter to Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
• Tsunayashiro Sōichirō sensed the danger, apologized stiffly, and hurried out of the reception room.
• Liu Ziyun sheathed Unohana's sword and tried to calm her by offering to cook her favorite dishes.
• Unohana asked Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake to inform Captain-Commander Yamamoto, then left with Liu Ziyun following her.
• Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake headed to the First Division to report the incident and speculated that the Tsunayashiro branch family would suffer for it.

After discussing the Tsunayashiro Clan’s threat with Unohana, Liu Ziyun secretly trained and learned from Tulu that Tsunayashiro Sōichirō had intended to control or eliminate him. Yamamoto ordered the Tsunayashiro Main Family to bring the branch family head’s head as an apology, while Liu’s resolve to grow stronger stirred his Reiatsu.

• Liu Ziyun and Unohana ate together, and Liu guessed that the Tsunayashiro Clan would exile or confine its branch family head rather than kill him.
• Tsunayashiro Sōichirō and his elders called for Liu Ziyun and Unohana to be punished, unaware that Yamamoto had ordered the main family to bring Sōichirō’s head to Unohana as an apology.
• Liu Ziyun slipped away to the underground training ground, where Tulu attacked him and warned that Sōichirō had been testing him and might have arranged to eliminate him if he refused control.
• Liu Ziyun accepted that his weakness left him vulnerable, and he resumed training as Tulu fought him at full strength.
• Liu Ziyun’s Reiatsu began to rise as something awakened within him, and Unohana watched from the courtyard with a gentle smile.

Liu Ziyun learned that Tulu was upset because he had used Life-Taker’s ability in public, then apologized and sparred with Life-Taker. Tulu interrupted their practice and challenged Liu Ziyun to fight with his Zanpakuto unreleased, ending the chapter with Tulu pressing him with a rapid barrage.

• Life-Taker told Liu Ziyun that Tulu was jealous because Liu Ziyun had revealed her healing ability instead of Tulu’s during the trial.
• Liu Ziyun apologized to Tulu, but Tulu remained cold and rejected his attempt to make amends.
• Life-Taker sparred with Liu Ziyun, matching his pace and guiding him as he practiced.
• Tulu kicked Liu Ziyun aside, took the form of his Asauchi, and demanded that Liu Ziyun fight him without releasing his Zanpakuto.
• Liu Ziyun blocked Tulu’s attack, countered with both swords, and dodged a strike aimed at his face before Tulu attacked again with a rapid barrage.

Tulu pushed Liu Ziyun through an intense fight until Liu lost control and unleashed his full instincts with Life-Taker. Tulu kept his Reiatsu matched to Liu’s, then defeated him with Broken Blade, leaving Liu unconscious but healing.

• Tulu’s relentless attacks forced Liu Ziyun to sharpen his reactions and begin counterattacking, but Liu eventually lost control as his Reiatsu erupted.
• Life-Taker recognized that Liu’s Reiatsu had risen but his mental state was unstable, while Tulu welcomed the release of Liu’s suppressed instincts.
• Tulu and Liu released their Zanpakuto, and Tulu restrained his power to match Liu’s Reiatsu as Liu charged him in a beastlike state.
• Liu countered Tulu’s Flying Blade by healing himself with Life-Taker and shattering the attack with Tulu, then blocked Tulu’s follow-up slash and counterattacked.
• Tulu used Broken Blade to blast Liu into a building, where Liu fell unconscious as Heal continued repairing his wounds.

After Tulu defeated Liu Ziyun in the inner world, Life-Taker healed him and the two discussed how he needed to master their powers without losing control. Liu Ziyun returned to Shin'ō Academy to prepare for the Soul Reaper Internship assessment, while Tulu and Life-Taker remained worried and anticipated what their shared master might become.

• Life-Taker healed the unconscious Liu Ziyun as she and Tulu discussed his Berserk Mode and the danger of using their powers before his body was ready.
• Liu Ziyun woke, learned the sparring was over, and tried to stay in the inner world to gain their power through sweet talk, but Life-Taker saw through him and Tulu ordered him to leave.
• Liu Ziyun told them he had to prepare for the Soul Reaper Internship assessment, then withdrew from the inner world.
• After Liu Ziyun left, Life-Taker revealed her concern that he feared the nature of their power, then suddenly cut Tulu in half before he regenerated.
• Tulu and Life-Taker looked toward their shared master with anticipation, worry, and madness as Liu Ziyun returned to Shin'ō Academy and fell asleep.

Liu Ziyun and his friends discussed the danger of noble attacks during the Soul Reaper Internship assessment, and he planned to separate from them to draw attention away. Unohana revealed she would accompany the assessment, but Liu Ziyun learned the Captain-Commander intended to train him for frontline service, threatening his hopes of a quiet life in the Fourth Division.

• Liu Ziyun warned Shinji Hirako, Kensei Muguruma, Love Aikawa, and Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi that nobles might target them during the assessment, so he proposed separating from the group to protect them.
• Liu Ziyun admitted he had hidden some of his strength and said he planned to join the Fourth Division and keep a low profile.
• Unohana told Liu Ziyun she would accompany the assessment to keep things under control and assured him the nobles could not transfer him away without her approval.
• Unohana said the Captain-Commander planned to give Liu Ziyun guidance because his self-protection skills were weak and he might serve on the front lines.
• Liu Ziyun left the captain's office discouraged and prepared to face the internship assessment despite fearing noble attacks and unwanted frontline duty.

Liu Ziyun joined the seven-day Soul Reaper Internship assessment in Karakura Town while Tsunayashiro Tokinada secretly prepared a trap aimed at him. After arriving in the World of the Living, Liu Ziyun wandered through the city and stopped at the edge of a park.

• Liu Ziyun continued his routine at the Fourth Division while Kiyōnosuke Yamada repeatedly warned him to be wary of noble families, and Tazawa Kentarō cautioned him about the lieutenant's closeness to nobles.
• As the assessment approached, Liu Ziyun worried about completing his assignment without drawing attention or attracting noble trouble.
• Shunsui Kyōraku announced that the assessment would last seven days in Karakura Town and require students to perform Konsō on at least three Pluses; Retsu Unohana would provide medical support.
• The students passed through the Senkaimon, formed teams or set off alone, and Liu Ziyun strolled into the city after speaking with Unohana and Shunsui Kyōraku.
• Tsunayashiro Tokinada arrived in Karakura Town and ordered his subordinates to use five barriers to trap the students, declaring that Liu Ziyun was his main target.
• Liu Ziyun explored Karakura Town and reached the outskirts of a park, where he suddenly stopped.