At Xingtian's utterly unrestrained mockery, a distinct ripple finally disturbed Laozi's usually tranquil state of mind, as still as an ancient well.
He lowered his eyelids slightly, concealing the flicker of embarrassment in his eyes.
He naturally knew how far-fetched his words had been-shameless, even.
But he had been left with no choice.
Every word Dijiang had just spoken struck at the heart, elevating the conflict between the Chan and Jie Sects into a matter of damaging a sacred mountain of the Primordial World and disrupting the Heavenly Court's order.
If Dijiang's justification were allowed to stand, the Three Pure Ones would be left entirely on the defensive.
As for fighting, even the three of them together were no match for Dijiang, much less with Zhu Jiuyin and the others behind him, and the Pangu True Body as their final safeguard.
But if they did not fight, were they really supposed to let Dijiang drive them out of Kunlun Mountain in the Heavenly Court's name, like homeless curs?
Then the Three Pure Ones would truly become a complete laughingstock throughout the Primordial World!
Thus, Laozi could only steel himself and lie with his eyes wide open, forcibly labeling this bloody conflict "sparring between fellow disciples."
As long as they clung stubbornly to that claim, Dijiang would have no grounds to expel them.
Laozi was gambling that Dijiang would not actually resort to force over such a "trivial matter" to make them leave.
After all, the Heavenly Court's reputation was well known, and there had been no reports of it using its strength to coerce anyone. Otherwise, the Demon Clan, which had been forced to relocate to the starry heavens, would have been reduced to piles of white bones by now.
Yuanshi and Tongtian were no fools either. Although they still