BTTH: REBORN AS HALF-SAINT

"Xie Tianxiao…"

Queen Medusa murmured his name, but after confirming she had never heard of him, she let out a cold snort.

"With your strength, recruiting a peak Dou Huang to serve you shouldn't be difficult."

"Why go through all this trouble to help me break through?"

To Queen Medusa, Xie Tianxiao, as a Dou Zong, had no reason to help her without expecting something in return.

"The reason is simple: once you successfully evolve into a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, you will follow my commands and work for me."

Xie Tianxiao stated bluntly.

"Follow you?"

"A man who doesn't even dare reveal his true identity? What makes you think I'd submit to you?"

Queen Medusa scoffed coldly.

"Because you're not strong enough, and I have the power to make you obey."

Xie Tianxiao replied without hesitation.

"You arrogant human…! If it comes to that, I'd rather fight you to the death!"

Queen Medusa gritted her teeth.

"Fight to the death?"

Xie Tianxiao chuckled.

"You might die, but the 'net' will not break. Serpent Queen, as the ruler of the Snake-People Tribe, you must care deeply for your people, don't you?"

Her expression darkened instantly.

"What are you planning?"

"Heh… Medusa, you wouldn't want your entire Snake-People Tribe to be wiped out by me, would you?"

Xie Tianxiao's smile deepened.

"Are you threatening me?"

Queen Medusa's face turned ice-cold.

"Threatening?"

Xie Tianxiao sneered.

"You're not even worthy of being threatened by me. But if you insist on fighting to the death, I won't mind sending your people to join you in the afterlife."

"You dare?!"

Queen Medusa's pupils contracted sharply.

She could abandon everything—her pride, her life—but she would never allow harm to come to her tribe.

That was her duty as their queen!

"Why wouldn't I dare?"

Xie Tianxiao smirked and shook his head.

"It seems the lesson I gave you earlier wasn't deep enough."

His tone suddenly turned cold and sharp.

"Wait—!"

Queen Medusa felt her heart tremble.

She clenched her fists, then exhaled deeply before speaking:

"Fine. I accept."

She had no choice.

She didn't want to endure another round of humiliation from this man. Besides, she wasn't really losing anything.

Once she broke through to Dou Zong, she could settle the score with interest.

"Oh?"

Xie Tianxiao raised an eyebrow, amused.

"Did I threaten or force you into this?"

"Human…!"

Queen Medusa glared at him, but in the end, she gritted her teeth and admitted:

"This is my own decision. It has nothing to do with you."

"Haha… Is that so? I thought a proud queen like you would rather die than submit."

Xie Tianxiao chuckled, his tone laced with mockery.

"Hmph. Now, can you finally tell me where you come from?"

Queen Medusa suppressed her fury and asked coldly.

"I don't mind telling you. I recently left seclusion and have no official affiliation with any force."

Xie Tianxiao replied casually.

"What? You're a rogue cultivator?"

Queen Medusa was stunned.

She had assumed he was from some powerful faction.

But he was actually a lone powerhouse?!

"Surprised?"

Xie Tianxiao smirked.

"With my strength, establishing my own sect wouldn't be difficult. I simply haven't done it yet."

Though he had no official sect, his Half-Saint cultivation made recruiting disciples effortless.

"Does that mean… you plan to build your own power in the future?"

Queen Medusa hesitated before asking.

Xie Tianxiao nodded.

"I plan to, but not right now."

Creating a Half-Saint faction overnight would attract hostility from the continent's top forces—especially from the Hall of Souls.

And dealing with them right now was too troublesome.

"In that case," Queen Medusa said after some thought, "I will only act when you personally require me. I will not obey anyone else in your future faction."

She was willing to work for him, not for his underlings.

"Fine by me. I don't want others commanding you either."

Xie Tianxiao agreed easily.

Queen Medusa wasn't surprised.

A Dou Zong-level subordinate was valuable, but her pride and individuality made her different from ordinary followers.

"Now I'm curious," she said, narrowing her eyes.

"You've almost refined the Green Lotus Core Flame. So what method do you have to help me evolve into a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python?"

Xie Tianxiao smiled.

"Just because I absorbed the flame doesn't mean I can't use it to help you evolve."

Hearing this, Queen Medusa paused, then let out a cold laugh.

"Confident, aren't you?"

"Of course."

If an ordinary alchemist had absorbed the Heavenly Flame, they would have lost direct control over it.

But his devouring system allowed him to fully integrate the Green Lotus Core Flame, keeping its original raw power intact.

Helping Queen Medusa evolve would be a simple task.

Seeing his unwavering confidence, she didn't question him further.

"How much longer until you finish refining the flame?"

"Two days."

"That long?"

Queen Medusa frowned.

She thought two days was too slow but, not being an alchemist herself, she couldn't judge.

"Fine. I'll return to my tribe and make the necessary preparations. Two days later, I will await your arrival."

"No problem. I'll come to the Snake-People Tribe in two days."

With that, Queen Medusa wasted no more time.

Her crimson wings flared behind her as she soared toward the surface.

Two Days Later…

Boom!

A powerful aura erupted from deep within the magma.

A dark figure suddenly appeared in the sky above the desert.

"System, show my status."

Xie Tianxiao stood in midair and commanded the system.

Ding!

A mechanical voice responded, and a screen materialized before him.

[Host: Xie Tianxiao

Realm: High-Level Half-Saint

Soul Realm: Low-Level Spirit Realm

Devoured Heavenly Flames: Yin-Yang Twin Flames, Green Lotus Core Flame

Overall Power: High-Level Half-Saint]

"Not bad, not bad."

Xie Tianxiao smiled in satisfaction.

With the Green Lotus Core Flame devoured, he had stepped further toward the Dou Sheng realm.

"As long as I keep devouring heavenly treasures, I can break through and become a Dou Sheng!"

"No tedious training. Effortless advancement. Zero drawbacks."

"That… is the power of my system!"

Xie Tianxiao couldn't help but admire his own blessing.

At just twenty-five years old, he was already a Half-Saint—something that would shock the entire world.

"Now that the Green Lotus Core Flame is mine, I should wrap up my deal with Queen Medusa…"

"Then, it's time to retrieve Yao Chen's Bone Chilling Flame."

Back in Wutan City, Yao Chen had begged for a few months.

Now that six months had passed, it was time to claim what was his.

Just as Xie Tianxiao was about to leave, he sensed multiple strong auras in the distance.

"Hmm? Dou Wang and Dou Huang-level presences?"

"Could it be… someone is attacking the Snake-People Tribe?"

Extending his soul power, he scanned the desert.

Then, he froze.

"Wait… that woman…"

A flash of surprise flickered across his face.

A sharp sonic boom echoed across the desert sky.

A graceful woman in a flowing white dress, with enormous azure wings, soared at high speed through the air.

Her movements were as elegant as a drifting willow leaf—fluid and swift, yet breathtakingly beautiful.

But not far behind, five snake-like figures with variously colored Dou Qi wings were in hot pursuit.

Compared to the woman's large and radiant wings, their wings were smaller and duller, yet their killing intent was unmistakable.

"Damn it… these damn pests just won't give up! They actually caught up this quickly?!"

The woman glanced back at her pursuers, her face flashing with irritation.

With a decisive turn, she stopped mid-air, pivoted gracefully, and faced her pursuers head-on.

Her cold, piercing gaze narrowed as she spoke:

"You snake-men are really persistent… Following me for so long. Since you refuse to back off, don't blame me for being merciless!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the five snake-men shot forward, surrounding her.

"Hahahaha! What a joke! You, the mighty Sect Leader of Yunlan Sect, are overestimating yourself!"

A brawny, shirtless snake-man stepped forward, his tone filled with mockery.

His name was Yan Ci, a Dou Wang and one of the eight great Snake-People leaders.

And the woman they had surrounded—was none other than the Sect Leader of Yunlan Sect, Yun Yun!

"That's right! With the five of us working together, even if you weren't already injured by our Queen, you'd still have no choice but to flee!"

A gray-robed elderly snake-man sneered sinisterly.

"Then come try me!"

Without hesitation, Yun Yun's delicate fingers traced along her sharp sword, and in the next instant—her figure vanished!

The moment she reappeared, she was already behind one of the snake-men.

A three-foot-long, razor-sharp sword aura burst from her sword tip, aimed directly at his vitals!

"Yan Ci! Behind you!"

The elderly snake-man shouted in alarm.

Yan Ci reacted quickly—his snake tail twisted sharply to the left, barely dodging Yun Yun's deadly strike!

Missed!

But Yun Yun's expression remained indifferent.

Releasing the sword hilt, her weapon spun rapidly along her palm—

"Whoosh!"

A compressed sword aura tore through the air, shooting straight for Yan Ci's throat!

His face changed drastically.

Unable to dodge, he instantly summoned his full Dou Qi defense.

"Boom!"

The clash of sword energy and Dou Qi armor created a deafening explosion.

Yan Ci was blown backward, crashing several meters away in a disheveled heap.

"Her speed is too fast! We can't take her one-on-one—attack together!"

The gray-robed elder shouted.

"Yes!"

The remaining three snake-men immediately launched their Dou Techniques at Yun Yun.

"You're courting death!"

Yun Yun coldly snorted, charging forward to meet them head-on.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of sword clashes echoed in the sky as Yun Yun battled the five snake-men.

However, as time passed—

Her injuries and exhaustion became apparent.

She soon began to lose ground.

"Shhhk!"

Suddenly—

She failed to react in time—

Yan Ci struck from behind, tearing through the sleeve of her light blue robe, leaving a bloody gash on her fair skin!

Before she could retaliate, another green-robed snake-man struck her square in the chest, sending her hurtling backward!

"Well done, Kui Xing!"

The elderly snake-man grinned maliciously.

"Hehe, Elder Yinshi, you flatter me!"

Kui Xing smirked.

This elder, named Yinshi, was a highly respected senior in the Snake-People Tribe.

Even among Dou Wang-level warriors, he commanded immense respect.

Yinshi turned back to Yun Yun, his expression sinister.

"Even though you're a Dou Huang, against our five Dou Wang, you won't leave this desert alive!"

"Hmph! If I weren't injured from fighting Medusa, do you think you'd have a chance?!"

Yun Yun stood up, wiping the blood from her lips, her gaze icy cold.

"Haha! And yet, here you are—cornered!"

"Yan Ci! Kui Xing! Finish her!"

Yinshi commanded.

"Understood!"

Both snake-men lunged at Yun Yun.

"You think you can kill me that easily?!"

Yun Yun's azure wings trembled, her body soaring into the air.

Her sword trembled—releasing an overwhelming pressure!

" Falling Sun Slash!"

Her blade conjured hundreds of illusory sword shadows, all raining down upon Yan Ci and Kui Xing!

Yinshi's face changed drastically.

"Yan Ci! Kui Xing! Dodge immediately! Don't block it head-on!"

"What?!"

Before they could react—

The storm of sword shadows struck them, engulfing them in violent explosions.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The two snake-men were blasted away, coughing up blood as they crashed into the sand.

They struggled to rise, their faces filled with shock and terror.

"Damn it! She was already injured—how does she still have this much strength?!"

Yinshi was stunned.

He had underestimated her.

Even a wounded Three-Star Dou Huang was still far beyond the level of five scattered Dou Wang.

"I already told you—if you want to kill me, you'd better be strong enough!"

Yun Yun descended gracefully, her voice icy cold.

"Don't celebrate too soon, Yun Yun!"

Yinshi let out a low growl.

"Yan Ci! Kui Xing! Hei Du! Hua She Wang! Form the Five-Serpent Death Seal!"

As he finished speaking, his hands moved rapidly, forming an intricate series of seals.

"Yes, Elder Yinshi!"

The other four snake-men swiftly followed, their hand signs forming in unison.

A gigantic, dark green energy condensed between their palms.

Their coordination was flawless—a result of countless years of training.

"Five-Serpent Death Seal—Activate!"

Yinshi roared.

The five energy beams fused into a single massive pillar of green-black energy.

A violent storm erupted—sand whipped through the desert, and the air grew thick with killing intent.

Moments later—

The energy took shape, transforming into a gigantic, serpent-like entity nearly thirty meters long!

"Hissssss—!"

The energy serpent reared its head, causing hurricane-force winds to rage through the desert!

"This is the legendary Snake-People Clan's fusion Dou Technique…"

Yun Yun's brows furrowed deeply.

Even though she couldn't gauge its exact power, the pressure alone suggested it was as strong as a peak Sixth-Tier Magical Beast!

"Today, no matter how much strength you have left… you will DIE here!"

Yinshi declared.

The energy serpent opened its maw—

A venomous green energy blast shot straight toward Yun Yun!

"Not good!"

Yun Yun's Dou Qi surged to its peak.

Her eyes flashed coldly—

She shot into the sky—sword poised for a final strike.

" Falling Star Execution!"

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