Chapter 157: The Yang Family of Green Pool

"Yang Qi, third place in the Tower of Babel test, clearing eleven floors... Outstanding talent, accepted as a disciple by the third-generation elder Lao San, and from this day forth, you are a fourth-generation disciple of the Azure Pool Sword Sect." Ignoring the murmurs and whispers of the crowd, Li Muqiu's indifferent voice continued to ring out. For a fleeting moment, however, his gaze swept with profound meaning over Li Zhen, who stood among the youthful candidates.

"What? The top three are all members of the Azure Pool Yang family? The Yang family really does produce talents in endless succession... I heard the Yang family has already become the backbone of the Azure Pool Sword Sect. Word has it that most of the hall masters across Azure Pool come from the Azure Pool Yang family." Hearing the announcement of the results, the youths began to buzz with discussion.

"Do you know about the eight seed disciples of the third generation? They hold a very resounding title in the world of cultivation—they are called the Eight Immortals of Azure Pool. Why, half of them are from the Azure Pool Yang family, and even the leader of the eight belongs to the Azure Pool Yang family." Some youths in the know shouted even louder...

"Ah! So the Azure Pool Yang family is this powerful? No wonder so many people were able to gather around the Yang family inside the Tower of Babel... I just heard that Li Zhen is the direct descendant of the Sect Master, yet he..." Overhearing the crowd's discussion, a youth couldn't help chiming in, "You say the Yang family is so powerful, why has the Azure Pool Sect Master always borne the surname Li, instead of..." But as he reached this point, seeing the strange looks turning toward him from those around, he suddenly realized his indiscretion.

Standing behind Li Muqiu, the various elders changed their expressions upon hearing the discussions below. Even Mu Chen, an elder of the Elder Council and Li Muqiu's "second brother," shifted his expression, lowered his gaze to his nose, and focused his mind inward. Among all these elders, who was unaware of the rapid rise of the Azure Pool Yang family in recent years? Yet this topic belonged strictly to the realm of taboos; usually, they didn't dare discuss it even in private. Should a careless remark touch upon Li Muqiu's scale of reverse, who could predict what catastrophe might be triggered?

"What is all this chatter? Is this a place for your brawling whispers? This is the Azure Pool Sword Sect, the sacred ground of immortality in the Southern Border. Having finally arrived at this place, devoid of reverence and lacking any pilgrimage in your hearts, you dare to engage in wild and idle gossip... From this moment on, if I hear anyone dare to discuss this again, their opportunity to enter the Azure Pool Sword Sect will be stripped away immediately... As for those who fail to enter Azure Pool altogether, I shall personally have them punished with the rod!" A tall middle-aged man flashed out from behind Li Muqiu. Casting a glance at Li Muqiu's indifferent face, he turned and sternly reprimanded the youths below the platform.

After finishing, the tall middle-aged man bowed respectfully to Li Muqiu, folding his hands and bending deeply. "Sect Master, my apologies! Though I, Yang Wei, hold the position of the Head of the Penalty Hall for the Azure Pool Sword Sect, I have failed to properly teach these children the precepts and disciplines of Azure Pool, allowing them to make a loud din and utter reckless nonsense beneath the Tower of Babel during the initiation ceremony... Though it is said children speak without taboo, the fault is still gravely mine. I beg the Sect Master to punish me severely!"

Li Muqiu stared with a cold and indifferent expression at Yang Wei before him. Yang Wei was not only the Head of the Penalty Hall of Azure Pool but also the nephew of the Azure Pool Guardian Elder Yang Quzhi, making him a renowned and authoritative figure among the second-generation disciples of the Azure Pool Sword Sect. Relying on his abilities as a second-generation disciple, he had already become the sovereign of a hall in Azure Pool, ranking even higher than the guardian elders. From this, one could perceive just how formidable this man truly was.

If Yang Quzhi was the Grand Elder of the Yang family, its spokesperson, and the first of the Yang family to enter the Azure Pool Elder Council, then Yang Wei was the spiritual leader of the Yang family and the most formidable figure in terms of raw power. His status as a second-generation disciple heading the Azure Pool Penalty Hall independently demonstrated his immense political weight within Azure Pool. Naturally, as a hall master, he was also a member of the Elder Council; and though he was Yang Quzhi's nephew, his influence vastly surpassed that of his uncle.

Li Muqiu looked at Yang Wei. Yang Wei was a figure he held in extremely high regard; otherwise, Yang Wei could never have attained the lofty position of Head of the Penalty Hall. Yang Wei was an elite among the second-generation disciples and someone he had watched grow up. He had even sighed privately in the past, "If one is to have a son, he should be like Yang Wei," which sufficiently revealed his appreciation and affection for the man...

He remembered that a long time ago, Yang Wei had been very close to him as well. But as time flowed on, he became the Sect Master, while Yang Wei became the Head of the Penalty Hall. Ever since then, all personal friendship between them had vanished, leaving behind only the relationship between master and servant...

Li Muqiu gazed impassively at Yang Wei, who simply maintained his respectful, cupped-hand bow with lowered head. The crowd was utterly silent; even all the elders behind him watched the two in complete stillness. Yang Quzhi's expression was exceptionally grave. He knew the Yang family had truly touched upon a major taboo this time—the sort of talk no one in a position of supreme power ever wished to hear. Even though it was merely the reckless speech of a group of youths, it still brushed against Li Muqiu's reverse scale.

If he were Li Muqiu, Yang Quzhi dared not imagine... After all, this was an exceedingly rare opportunity. Furthermore, as the master of a sect, especially one as ruthless and strong-willed as Li Muqiu, he naturally understood how vital it was to maintain a balance of power within a faction. This had nothing to do with right or wrong; purely for the sake of better controlling this sphere of influence, would he make a decisive judgment?

"Hahaha, Wei'er, what crime could you possibly have?" Li Muqiu suddenly let out a hearty laugh, reaching out to gently support the bowed Yang Wei as he said, "Wei'er, under your leadership, the Penalty Hall is thriving... You have also done much for Azure Pool over these years, and everyone sees it clearly. Very good, very good indeed."

Supported by Li Muqiu's upward gesture, Yang Wei finally raised his head. Looking at Li Muqiu's mild and amiable expression, he felt a wave of relief wash over him, yet he was deeply puzzled. Why did Li Muqiu address him as "Wei'er"? If one were to trace that form of address, it belonged to over a hundred years ago. Counting down to the present, Li Muqiu had not called him that in more than a century. Besides, he was now a hall master; regardless of who it was, no one would address him in such a manner anymore. Even Li Muqiu had previously only referred to him as Hall Master Yang.

What puzzled him even more was that, given Li Muqiu's decisive and ruthless nature, he should have seized the opportunity to erupt, or at the very least issue a severe warning to their Yang family. Yet how could Li Muqiu simply let the matter rest like this? In the past, if someone spoke of the Azure Pool Yang family, Li Muqiu would certainly have smiled it off and paid it no mind, because back then the Yang family posed no threat whatsoever to his position.

Yet today, the "Azure Pool Yang family" had grown and flourished, occupying half the territory of Azure Pool. To speak of the "Azure Pool Yang family" now—even if it was just a group of children—no sect master, whoever they might be, would simply let it slide, would they? To turn a blind eye and let this matter drift was tantamount to splitting Azure Pool apart, wasn't it? One must remember that within Azure Pool, there could only ever be one Li family, and there must only ever be one Li family. As for all others, they existed merely to serve the Li family, leaving no room for any so-called "Yang family."