Although Li Ruoxiang said he wouldn't do alchemy, he was a big man who wouldn't stoop to Li Ruoxiang's level.
Moreover, he had no reason not to help Li Ruoxiang. As of now, it seemed that the Great Elder's influence within the sect was not necessarily less than that of Li Ruoxiang. The change in Wei Gang's attitude was enough evidence; when Wei Gang was first caught by Li Ruoxiang, his face showed only despair.
At that time, Wei Gang and Hu Yiming probably never expected that the Great Elder could save them from Li Ruoxiang's hands.
It could be seen that the Great Elder's position had been consolidated during the time Li Ruoxiang was away, to the extent that Li Ruoxiang had to temporarily bow his head and release Hu Yiming and Wei Gang.
Otherwise, Yang Chen didn't think Li Ruoxiang would have spared these two disciples at that time and deliberately waited to release them to the Great Elder.