Yuanshi Tianzun had been rebuffed without being able to retort, which only made his mood more sullen.
He snorted coldly. "Can they even be compared? Every one of my Elucidation Sect disciples is a virtuous person.
"Now look at those Jie Sect disciples behind you. How many of them can truly be called virtuous?
"Some are even a motley rabble that have yet to assume human form."
Yuanshi Tianzun had already shown Master Tongtian some restraint and had not directly called them furred beasts, horned creatures, egg-born things, or wet-born creatures.
Moreover, Yuanshi Tianzun was not entirely wrong. Among the Jie Sect disciples, there were indeed countless ones with savage appearances.
But Hong Ze had long anticipated that Yuanshi Tianzun would try every possible way to disparage the Jie Sect disciples.
Golden Spirit Mother and the others had told him long ago that Yuanshi Tianzun had acted this way at the previous Profound Gate Three Sects Dao Discussion Assemblies.
Thus, Hong Ze had already prepared his response. He immediately bowed to Yuanshi Tianzun once more and said,
"Second Grand-Uncle, judging people by their appearance is not the conduct of a Saint. My Jie Sect brothers and sisters may not compare to your disciples, Second Grand-Uncle, but they are not a motley rabble."
Seeing their Eldest Senior Brother confront Yuanshi Tianzun for their sake, the Jie Sect disciples were overwhelmed with gratitude toward Hong Ze.
This made Jin Guang Xian, standing behind Hong Ze, freeze for a moment as he inwardly cried out in alarm.
He could not help turning to look at Ling Ya Xian beside him, but Ling Ya Xian could only shake his head helplessly.
Although he also knew that Hong Ze's prestige within the Jie Sect was growing ever greater, what could he do about it?
Could