"What is it? Speak freely, young friend."
The needle in Shangguan Tong's mouth quietly disappeared, as though it could bend and hide between his lips and teeth.
He revealed another eager smile, his gestures and expression perfectly measured.
What an old fox!
Cao Jinxing cursed inwardly but kept his expression unchanged. "I suddenly remembered that you seem to have a brother named Shangguan Sheng. Is that right?"
"..."
Shangguan Tong's expression stiffened slightly.
Although he concealed it well, Cao Jinxing still spotted the discordance in his expression and became even more certain of his guess.
"Yes."
Shangguan Tong sighed deeply. "Twelve years ago, he suffered cultivation deviation while practicing demonic arts and was eventually killed by the combined forces of three sects... Alas, the Maitreya Sect's doctrine advocates attaining enlightenment through killing. In the thirty years since he mastered his arts, he slaughtered countless people and committed every evil. I tried to dissuade him several times, but he attacked me instead. He brought his fate upon himself. He has been dead for twelve years. Why do you ask about him?"
"He seems to have come back to life."
Cao Jinxing spoke at an unhurried pace. "I heard he has been cultivating on East Sea Mist-Flow Island these past two years. He once hunted an exotic sea beast, a [Heaven-Swallowing Whale], to increase his power. He's only one step away from the Faxiang realm."
Hmm?
Mist-Flow Island?
Killing a whale?
Qin Xuanji's heart skipped a beat.
Cao Jinxing bowed and continued, "Please forgive my cowardice, but retrieving the key is too dangerous. Why don't we contact Shangguan Sheng for you instead? He's your own flesh and blood, your full brother. Surely he wouldn't leave you to die! The lady beside me is the second young lady of the East Sea Huang