After stepping through the stone gate, Xiao Fan found only a few simple furnishings inside. Eagle Protector casually seated himself on a meditation cushion and regarded Xiao Fan with a half-smile.
Xiao Fan's gaze sharpened, and uncertainty crept into his heart. Logically, there was no reason for Eagle Protector to capture a mere Da Dou Shi like him. What about him had drawn the man's attention?
Seeing Xiao Fan lost in thought, Eagle Protector gave a sinister laugh. "Boy, do you know why I went to such lengths to bring you to the Black-Corner Region?"
Xiao Fan bowed slightly, carefully saluting Eagle Protector before speaking in a low voice. "In your eyes, Senior, this junior is nothing but an ant. A single glance from you would be enough to kill me. I truly do not know what about me could merit your attention. Please enlighten me, Senior."
"Heh heh heh, nothing worth my attention? You must be joking. You're not even twenty, yet you've already joined the ranks of Da Dou Shi. And..." At this point, Eagle Protector took a deep breath in Xiao Fan's direction, looking almost intoxicated before continuing.
"And I can smell that exquisite soul aura on you, just like those Alchemists. Your soul is purer than theirs, more refined. A mere Da Dou Shi, yet your condensed soul power is almost on par with a Dou Ling's. And then there's that bizarre black flame of yours, silent and undetectable... Tell me, boy, which of those things wouldn't merit my attention? Heh heh heh..."
Xiao Fan's heart sank at Eagle Protector's words. Indeed, even with Yao Lao's guidance, Xiao Yan was still only a four-star Dou Shi, while he had already reached Da Dou Shi. Nor had he neglected his Alchemy. He also possessed a heavenly flame,