The Shinigami Absolutely Cannot Make a Move Against Humans

"Who are you connected with?"

Yen Si spoke again, his voice calmer than before, devoid of any discernible emotion.

The Soul Society, as the resting place for the departed, had a fundamental duty to manage the cycle of souls.

Publicly interfering in the wars of the living world, even tacitly allowing humans to imprison souls in such cruel ways to continue fighting, was an absolute violation of the most basic rules.

Especially with Captain Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, renowned for his integrity and iron-fisted rule, who would surely have zero tolerance for such actions.

Someone with the audacity and capability to conduct such clandestine dealings, even to the point of having Shinigami on missions turn a blind eye…

It absolutely couldn't be an ordinary squad member, or even a general member within the Gotei 13.

Could it be… some nobles?

This thought flashed through Yen Si's mind.

The noble system in the Soul Society was vast and complex. Certain high-ranking nobles indeed possessed numerous privileges and hidden powers. If they were involved…

The goatee-wearing Onmyoji's face darkened. He seemed reluctant to go into specifics, yet wanted to deter Yen Si with a threat.

He pointed a finger towards the direction of the main battlefield outside, his tone carrying a warning:

"Look closely. Have any other Shinigami come to deal with us? Can't they see?

Can't they feel it? Since they haven't come, you should understand the boundaries here!

Some things are not your concern! Hurry up and leave. This is all I can tell you!"

After speaking, the two Onmyoji straightened their backs and stood there rigidly, staring at Yen Si. The last trace of nervousness vanished from their faces, replaced by an unshakeable confidence.

They were well aware of the Shinigami's rules: they couldn't attack living humans. This was an unbreakable law.

Therefore, even if this Shinigami before them seemed difficult to deal with, as long as they remained alive, the other party couldn't truly do anything to them.

Hmph, they're quite tight-lipped and stubborn, Yen Si thought. He shifted his body, his gaze drifting towards the distant, still chaotic main battlefield, as if searching for something, or perhaps contemplating.

His spiritual pressure perception quietly spread out.

Soon, he locked onto his target: at the edge of the battlefield, a soul whose chains had just completely snapped due to resentment and the surrounding negative emotions, creating a hollow in its chest, its body beginning to twist and swell, a pale, bony mask gradually appearing on its face.

It was emitting unconscious roars, swaying unsteadily as it attempted to lunge at another bewildered soul nearby.

That's it.

Yen Si's figure vanished from before the two Onmyoji without a trace.

The next instant, he appeared beside the "newborn Hollow" that had just completed its transformation and was in its most weakened and chaotic state.

This Hollow wasn't large, resembling a stretched and deformed ape, its movements slow and its consciousness muddled.

Yen Si didn't draw his sword. Instead, he extended his right palm towards it, palm facing forward.

"Bakudō #8: Shō."

A flexible yet powerful shockwave erupted from his palm, slamming into the newborn Hollow's chest.

"Bang!"

The Hollow let out a muffled cry of pain. Its entire body was sent flying by the force, tracing an ungraceful arc through the air. It landed precisely a few steps in front of the two Onmyoji, kicking up a small patch of dust.

The Hollow was dazed by the fall. It shook its head, propping itself up to stand.

Its chaotic consciousness was now solely filled with a craving for spiritual energy. As it looked up, it "saw" two living beings radiating faint spiritual power before it – the Onmyoji, like little snacks in its perception.

"Roar!"

The Hollow let out a roar far clearer than before, filled with greed and ferocity. It dropped to all fours and lunged violently towards the two "food" within its reach!

Its speed was more than double what it had been when staggering along earlier!

"Spirit… Spirit Ball!"

The two Onmyoji had never expected such a sudden disaster!

One second they were confidently threatening a Shinigami, and the next they saw a monstrous creature with a ferocious face and an ominous aura lunging at them with bared fangs and claws!

They were utterly terrified, their faces pale. Almost by instinct for survival, they fumbled to unleash their most practiced, and only, offensive technique.

They hastily opened their hands, palms facing each other, desperately squeezing out the meager spiritual power within them, condensing it into two fist-sized, dimly glowing, unstable white spiritual energy balls between their palms.

"Go!"

Both of them forcefully pushed the spiritual energy balls towards the charging Hollow.

This so-called "Spirit Ball" was, in principle, the most basic and crude form of spiritual energy release attack. It wasn't even considered Kidō, let alone chanting for added properties.

It was simply forcefully compressing and throwing out their internal spiritual power, with pathetic power, speed, and control.

Bang! Bang!

Both Spirit Balls hit their target, striking the Hollow's skull, covered by the bony mask, with two dull thuds.

The Hollow's charge was momentarily halted. It seemed to feel pain, its movements pausing for a second.

The two Onmyoji seized this opportunity, scrambling backward several steps, panting heavily, cold sweat streaming down their foreheads.

Those two Spirit Balls had already depleted their meager spiritual energy reserves. At this moment, their limbs felt weak.

"Hmph, just a mere brat..." The goatee-wearing Shinigami tried to maintain his composure, attempting to put on a brave face, but his voice trembled violently.

"Aow!"

The only reply was the Hollow's even more furious and savage howl.

This bit of pain didn't scare it away; instead, it ignited its predatory ferocity.

It