User blog comment:Xilinoc/Ch. 541 - THE BLADE AND ME 2/@comment-10182779-20130612135814/@comment-5398287-20130613050045

Yeah, he's just stepping back and allowing Ichigo to access the full power of his Zanpakuto. The only way he'd be gone forever is if Ichigo lost his Quincy powers, since he's the manifestation of them.