"That settles it!" Su Xuanwu sneered coldly. "In a sparring match between Wei Zhuang and Su Mu, why was he wearing a defensive artifact? Doesn't that violate the Sect Rules? And what should be done about it?"
Rather than addressing what punishment Yang Kai deserved, he dragged Wei Zhuang into the same boat, catching Grand Elder Wei Xitong off guard. The Grand Elder didn't know how to respond.
"If Wei Zhuang truly beat Su Mu with his own ability, then Su Mu only had himself to blame for his poor training. But now Wei Zhuang is using the protection of an artifact to humiliate my grandson — do you take me for a lump of clay?!" Su Xuanwu let out a furious shout, his palm smashing the armrest of his chair into splinters.
Wei Xitong had no choice but to lower his stance. "Second Brother, please calm yourself. That defensive artifact was indeed granted to Wei Zhuang by me. But I only intended to give him a bit more safety. I never expected the boy's nature to be so base that he would rely on an artifact's power to spar with others. This is Wei Zhuang's fault."
With that, he bellowed toward the floor: "Wei Zhuang! Why haven't you apologized and admitted your mistake to your Junior Brother Su?"
Wei Zhuang proved obedient enough. Hearing this, he immediately cupped his fists toward Su Mu. "Junior Brother Su, this was Senior Brother Wei's fault this time. I offer you my apologies — please be generous of heart and let it go. I hope you won't hold it against me!"
"Hmph!" Su Mu turned his head away, refusing to acknowledge him.
But with things said to this point, what more could Su Xuanwu do?
The Grand Elder pressed on: "Wei Zhuang may be at fault, but Yang Kai's transgression was far greater. He wielded a deadly weapon and nearly killed Wei Zhuang. Had the Law Enforcement Hall disciples not intervened in time, Wei Zhuang would likely be dead by now. The impact of this incident is severe — Yang Kai must be severely punished to serve as a warning!"
Fourth Elder Zhou Fei and Fifth Elder You Zizai nodded vigorously in agreement.
The Second Elder sneered: "So Wei Zhuang broke the Sect Rules and gets off with an apology, but Yang Kai deserves severe punishment? Could it be that because Wei Zhuang is your grandson, Grand Elder, he gets to enjoy special privileges? If that's truly the case, then what credibility does the Lingxiao Pavilion Elder Council have left before the disciples?"
Wei Xitong replied gravely: "Second Brother, you're mistaken. Yang Kai's offense and Wei Zhuang's offense cannot be compared. Wei Zhuang merely wore a defensive artifact — he only sought to protect himself and never intended to harm anyone. But Yang Kai was wielding an artifact meant for killing — he intended to kill. The severity of these two should be clear enough, Second Brother."
Su Xuanwu said: "May I ask, Grand Elder, who actually saw Yang Kai wielding a killing artifact? If such a weapon truly existed, why didn't the Law Enforcement Hall confiscate it from him? Fourth Brother — does your Law Enforcement Hall have any report on this matter?"
The Law Enforcement Hall fell under Fourth Elder Zhou Fei's jurisdiction. He shook his head: "There is no such report. However, with so many people present at the time, they all personally witnessed a small blood-red blade in Yang Kai's hand — that much cannot be faked. If the weapon hadn't been of tremendous power, the Embroidered Cloud Chain Armor wouldn't have been destroyed."
Su Xuanwu let out a cold snort. Yuan Qi churned within him, and a slender long sword suddenly materialized at his fingertip. The blade, condensed entirely from Yuan Qi, flickered with dazzling light — its power was clearly formidable.
"If that's the argument, then am I also holding a weapon right now?" Su Xuanwu cast his cold gaze upon the three across from him.
"This is merely a refined application of Yuan Qi — how could it possibly count as a weapon?" Fifth Elder You Zizai slowly shook his head.
"Second Brother's meaning, then, is that this Yang Kai — a mere third-level Kaiyuan Realm cultivator — is already capable of using Yuan Qi to such a degree?" Fourth Elder Zhou Fei looked at Su Xuanwu with a half-smile.
That was practically a joke. A martial artist could only condense such a solid form after reaching the Zhenyuan Realm, when the Yuan Qi within their body transformed into true essence. Yang Kai was a mere third-level Kaiyuan Realm cultivator — an enormous gulf away from the Zhenyuan Realm. How could he possibly possess such ability?
"I never said he had that level of Yuan Qi manipulation. Could it be that you brothers have forgotten about martial arts techniques?" Su Xuanwu snorted.
"Impossible. Even if he used some peculiar martial art, a third-level Kaiyuan Realm martial artist could absolutely never break through the defense of the Embroidered Cloud Chain Armor," Wei Xitong repeated, shaking his head.
"Nothing is impossible in this world. All I can say is that you brothers have lived in Lingxiao Pavilion for too long, consumed by your struggles for power, your thinking has become rigid and calcified — long out of touch with the times!"
The words stung. Wei Xitong's expression turned cold. "Second Brother — must you insist on shielding that Yang Kai?"
"So what if I do!" Su Xuanwu shot to his feet. "What happened here, to put it simply, was a spar between juniors, and you insist on blowing it out of proportion. Fine. I'll indulge your unreasonable harassment. Either punish both Yang Kai and Wei Zhuang together — they both broke the Sect Rules, so let neither go free — or let the matter rest."
"Out of the question!" Wei Xitong rejected the idea outright. "Even if Yang Kai used a martial art to break the Embroidered Cloud Chain Armor's defense as you say, this person is young and his methods are bloody and cruel. Once his cultivation matures in the future, he will surely descend into the evil path. Lingxiao Pavilion cannot harbor such a person!"
"He's barely in the Kaiyuan Realm — how can you know he'll descend into the evil path? Don't tell me you can see the future, Grand Elder!"
"Second Brother—" Fourth Elder Zhou Fei attempted to speak, but Su Xuanwu cut him off with a furious shout, pointing right at his nose: "You! Fourth Brother — before the Sect Leader went into seclusion, he specifically appointed you to oversee the Law Enforcement Hall. Look at what the Hall has been doing these past few years! Fairness and justice — where are they? If the Law Enforcement Hall only serves to suppress dissidents and prop up those grasping for power, then what's the use of keeping it? Tomorrow I will report to the Sect Leader and have him abolish the Hall entirely! What utter nonsense!"
Fourth Elder Zhou Fei squinted under the tirade, unable to retort, feeling thoroughly wronged inside.
"Second Brother — what if I insist on expelling Yang Kai from Lingxiao Pavilion?" Wei Xitong asked, his face rigid.
"You wouldn't dare!" Su Xuanwu refused to yield an inch.
"Fine. Then let's follow the procedure the Sect Leader established and take a vote by raised hands. Once the Elder Council passes a resolution, surely even Second Brother won't object?"
"A vote by raised hands?" Su Xuanwu burst into laughter. "Grand Elder, do you take me for a fool? A vote by raised hands — is there even any need for a vote?"
"Nothing works, and nothing is acceptable. What exactly do you want? Do you even hold the Sect Leader's established rules in any regard?" Wei Xitong's own temper was flaring now.
The Elder Hall was thick with the smoke of conflict, and a physical altercation seemed imminent.
"Calm down, everyone, calm down. Come, have a cup of water, have a cup of water. Let's all cool our heads." Third Elder He Beishui, who had remained silent until now, finally interjected to mediate.
He Beishui had a placid temperament. Though he generally stood on the Second Elder's side, he rarely participated in disputes. His name suited his catchphrase perfectly — He Beishui: have a cup of water. Whenever friction arose among the elders, this was his standard appeal for calm. It rarely worked.
"No!" the Grand Elder and Second Elder roared simultaneously, glaring at each other, neither willing to back down.
The Third Elder sighed helplessly and poured himself a drink.
While the elders were still arguing, a voice suddenly came from outside: "A disciple has an urgent matter to report to the elders!"
Fourth Elder Zhou Fei frowned and quickly called: "Enter!"
When the Elder Council was in session, ordinary disciples would never dare interrupt. For someone to come at this hour meant something major had happened within the Sect.
The elders understood this at once and grudgingly paused their quarreling.
After the disciple entered, Zhou Fei asked: "What is it?"
"Reporting to the Elder — someone broke into the Law Enforcement Hall's Forest Prison and rescued the troublemakers Yang Kai, Li Yuntian, and the others. They are currently in a standoff with Senior Brother Xie Hongchen at the prison gates."
"What?!" Zhou Fei shot to his feet on the spot. The other elders' faces were equally stricken with shock.
"Who would dare break into the Forest Prison to rescue prisoners?!"
The Lingxiao Pavilion disciple didn't dare answer. He merely lifted his eyes and cast a timid glance at Su Xuanwu.
Su Xuanwu's heart lurched — a vague sense of foreboding washed over him.
The Grand Elder took all of this in, forming his own suspicions, and calmly commanded: "Speak."