"I am secure in my status. The attacker's pathetic attempts at reducing my status are beneath my notice."

I think the real message is "The attacker's attempt to reduce my status is too ineffective to need a response".

On a good day I'd say "okay" so he knows I heard him, and then start a conversation with someone else, unless there's some instrumental value in confronting him or continuing the conversation given that I now know he's playing status games. I don't know a good way to carry on a useful conversation with someone who is playing status games, so I'm stuck in that situation too.