BTTH: REBORN AS HALF-SAINT

Hearing Xie Tianxiao's words, Yun Yun couldn't help but ask in confusion.

Dou Zun belonged to the eighth tier, but since Xie Tianxiao claimed to be neither a Dou Zun nor the legendary ninth-tier Dou Sheng, then what exactly was he?

"Beyond Dou Zun, yet below Dou Sheng—this realm is known as… Half-Saint," Xie Tianxiao said calmly, his gaze still fixed on the distant horizon.

"Half-Saint? What kind of level is that?"

Yun Yun gasped in shock but was still utterly puzzled as she looked at Xie Tianxiao.

She only knew that above Dou Zun was Dou Sheng, but she had never even heard of this so-called Half-Saint.

After all, with her current strength as a Dou Huang, how could she possibly understand these higher realms?

"Alright, Sect Leader Yun Yun, these matters are still far too distant for you. When you one day reach the level of Dou Zun, you can slowly come to understand them," Xie Tianxiao said with a knowing smile, clearly seeing through Yun Yun's thoughts but offering no further explanation.

"...Very well," Yun Yun nodded. She then bowed slightly and said, "Thank you, Senior, for enlightening me with so much knowledge. I won't ask any further."

She understood Xie Tianxiao's unspoken message—her strength was still too weak, and knowing too much beyond her current comprehension would be meaningless. That was why Xie Tianxiao chose not to elaborate.

Moreover, Yun Yun had never even dared to dream of reaching the Dou Zun realm. Even if she could one day miraculously step into the Dou Zong level, she would already be more than satisfied.

"Since your questions have been answered, it is time for me to leave as well," Xie Tianxiao said, glancing at Yun Yun.

"Since Senior has important matters to attend to, I won't delay you any further. Safe travels, Senior," Yun Yun quickly said with a respectful bow.

"Hmm… I hope that when we meet again, it won't be too late."

As his words fell, the space behind Xie Tianxiao suddenly distorted, forming a rift.

His figure then flickered and disappeared into the rift, vanishing from Yun Yun's sight.

"Spatial power… Compared to him, my strength as a mere Dou Huang is truly insignificant," Yun Yun murmured to herself, taking a deep breath as she watched him leave.

This man was beyond mysterious—his strength, his demeanor, and his motives all left an overwhelming impression on her.

"Sigh… No matter what his true intentions were in saving me, our Misty Cloud Sect cannot afford to provoke someone like him."

"Meeting him… I wonder if it will turn out to be a blessing or a curse."

Yun Yun sighed softly, speaking to herself.

Through their conversation, she still couldn't fully grasp the meaning of the Half-Saint realm, but she now understood one thing—Xie Tianxiao was at least a Dou Zun-level powerhouse.

A figure of such magnitude… If anything were to happen involving him, the Misty Cloud Sect might end up being implicated—or worse, face total annihilation.

"Forget it, I should return to the sect first."

"This entire ordeal must be reported to my teacher, and we also need to quickly discuss the matter of the Snake Tribe losing five Dou Wang experts," Yun Yun thought to herself.

Without wasting any more time, she condensed her green Dou Qi wings and soared towards the Misty Cloud Sect.

After stepping out from the spatial rift, Xie Tianxiao did not immediately return to the Mercenary Group. Instead, he arrived outside a small shop in the desert.

"This should be the place," he murmured to himself as he stood in the air, gazing down at the quaint, old-fashioned shop below.

After parting ways with Yun Yun, he had intended to return to the Desert Metal Mercenary Group to find Qing Lin.

However, midway through his journey, he suddenly recalled that in the original story, there was an old man known as the Ice Emperor who sold maps here—including a remnant map of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, ranked among the top three on the Heavenly Flame Ranking.

Thus, after making some inquiries among the desert natives, he finally pinpointed the location and flew straight over.

Inside the small shop, an elderly man with a head of silver-white hair sat by the counter, carefully drawing a map.

Though the man was advanced in age, he exuded a sense of authority that did not match his years.

His withered hand held a black ink pen, yet despite its frail appearance, his grip was steady and firm—completely devoid of any shakiness.

Everything about him spoke of his power and extraordinary nature.

"This map… What is its true origin? I have a feeling it's anything but simple," the old man muttered to himself.

After finishing his drawing, he compared it to another map—one marked with a lotus seal. A thoughtful expression crossed his face as he studied it.

He had stumbled upon this lotus-marked map in the desert by pure chance. Sensing its mysterious nature, he had decided to keep it.

For days, he had been trying to decipher its secrets.

Unfortunately, no matter how much effort he put in, he could not unlock its mysteries. The only thing he could determine was that the map was extremely old—at least several hundred years old.

"Sigh… It's just a fragment anyway. No matter how much I study it, it's futile."

The old man sighed and put the map away.

Just then, a voice rang in his ears.

"Hai Bodong, I have business with you. Come out immediately."

Though the voice was not particularly loud, in the quiet of the small shop, it was impossibly clear.

"Who?"

"Could it be one of my old acquaintances? No… this voice doesn't sound familiar!"

Hai Bodong's expression shifted, and he immediately stood up.

"I'd like to see which fool dares to seek trouble with me!"

His expression darkened, and an icy Dou Qi aura surged around his body as he strode toward the door.

Bang!

The moment he pushed the door open, his pupils suddenly contracted in shock.

Standing outside was a young man, floating in midair without any visible Dou Qi wings.

A terrifying realization hit him instantly.

"A Dou Zong…"

Hai Bodong's heart trembled, but he quickly steadied himself. With a frown, he said, "I don't recall ever crossing paths with a powerhouse like you."

He didn't know when such a formidable Dou Zong had arrived in the Jia Ma Empire, let alone why this person had come looking for him.

But one thing was certain—this would not be good news. He had to tread carefully, or his very life could be at stake.

"Whether we've met before or not is irrelevant," Xie Tianxiao said, gazing at Hai Bodong's aged face.

"I've come here today for something in your possession. Something you were never meant to have."

"...Something?"

Hai Bodong's brows furrowed deeply. After a moment of silence, he replied, "I'm just an old man barely getting by. What could I possibly own that would be worth the attention of someone like you?"

For over a decade, ever since his strength was sealed, he had kept a low profile in this desert town.

If he truly possessed something valuable, he would have known about it himself.

But now, what could possibly be worth a Dou Zong coming after him?

"A map fragment. One with a lotus emblem," Xie Tianxiao said calmly, his gaze unwavering.

"You should be quite familiar with it, shouldn't you?"