User blog comment:Xilinoc/Ch. 554 - Desperate Lights/@comment-4509522-20131023204226/@comment-11051098-20131023221338

There was a light column erupting from what looked like a bunch of destroyed buildings, in the panel after the one where Cang Du's Vollständig was activated and crushed the ice cross. I suspect that it might be BG9's Vollständig being released.

I don't think he's dead either, he appeared to survive a direct hit of Jakuhô Raikôben with no other effect than half his mask destroyed.