359: Situ Lan's friendship

Feng Linger's clear gaze swept through the carved wooden window, surveying the noticeably increased patrol teams of the Situ Family on the streets below, all wearing uniform cyan thunder-patterned attire, and she whispered softly:

"The Situ Family reacted quickly. As soon as the Zhou Family suffered a major setback at Falling Thunder Gorge, they strengthened security at all key locations. Thunderbolt City... is temporarily safe."

Di Jingzhe slowly opened his eyes, a trace of weariness flashing deep in his pupils, but his sharp, blade-like essence remained undiminished.

He picked up the warm spirit tea on the table and took a sip. The scalding liquid slid down his throat, bringing a hint of warmth that slightly suppressed the burning pain in his internal organs.

The food and drink at Thunderstrike Tower primarily featured Thunder Prison Prefecture's unique thunder beast meat and spirit vegetables infused with thunder yuan power. The flavors were spicy and domineering, yet they contained essences that nourished the physique of thunder Cultivators.

The two ate in silence, replenishing the stamina consumed from days of rapid travel.

Downstairs in the main hall, the clamor of voices—adventurers, merchants, and local Cultivators—mixed with the scent of strong liquor and roasted meat, rising upward. The focus of discussion, unsurprisingly, centered on yesterday's earth-shattering explosion at Falling Thunder Gorge and the subsequent spread of news about the fall of the Zhou Family's Profound Venerable Elder.

"Have you heard? Falling Thunder Gorge... Thunderclap Fortress is gone! Blown to pieces without a single intact brick left!"

"More than just the fort! The Zhou Family's Elder Zhou Yan, a great figure at the Profound Venerable Realm! Rumor has it he was obliterated! Not even ashes remained!"

"My heavens! Is that true? A Profound Venerable! Someone capable of splitting mountains and severing peaks! Just... gone like that?"

"Absolutely true! My cousin is a minor leader among the Crimson Thunder Guards. When the news reached Crimson Thunder Mountain City, Zhou Tianxiong vomited blood and fainted on the spot! When he woke up, his eyes were bloodshot, as if he wanted to devour someone!"

"Heh, serves them right! In recent years, the Zhou Family, relying on their power, has tyrannized Thunder Prison Prefecture, forcibly occupying mineral veins and oppressing Loose Cultivators. This time, they've kicked an iron plate, haven't they?"

"I heard it was done by a young man and a young woman?"

"Tsk tsk, truly two calamity stars! Two youngsters daring to push the Zhou Family to the brink, even causing a Profound Venerable to fall... such audacity, such methods... simply incredible!"

"The Situ Family must be grinning from ear to ear this time..."

These discussions clearly reached the private room.

Feng Linger's hand holding the chopsticks paused slightly as she looked at Di Jingzhe.

Di Jingzhe's expression remained as calm as still water, as if the calamity stars being discussed downstairs had nothing to do with him. He simply focused on placing a piece of roasted, sizzling thunder rhino meat, crackling with thunder arcs, into his mouth, chewing slowly and forcefully.

Only deep in his eyes, a fleeting sharp light—like thunder splitting dark clouds—betrayed the turmoil within him.

A Profound Venerable... if not for that mysterious expert's intervention... Just then, the carved wooden door of the private room was gently knocked.

"Esteemed guests, pardon the interruption."

A gentle and clear voice came through.

The door opened, and a Young Master dressed in moon-white brocade robes walked in.

He appeared to be in his early twenties, with an upright posture and handsome features. A perfectly measured smile graced his lips, giving him an elegant and refined demeanor.

As he walked, his steps were steady, accompanied by a low, resonant hum of wind and thunder, revealing a profound Foundation in thunder-based cultivation.

It was none other than the Situ Family's Young Lord—Situ Lan.

Situ Lan's gaze swept across the private room. Upon seeing Di Jingzhe and Feng Linger, a hint of admiration and appreciation appropriately flashed in his eyes. He clasped his hands and said with a smile:

"I am Situ Lan, serving as the manager here. Seeing your extraordinary bearing and distinguished demeanor, I've taken the liberty to disturb you. Might I have the honor of sharing a drink with you?"

His posture was humble, his tone sincere, without any trace of the arrogance common among scions of prominent families.

Di Jingzhe set down his chopsticks and looked up at Situ Lan.

His gaze was calm and unrippled, yet it carried a penetrating force, as if trying to see through the other's gentle exterior to discern his true intentions.

His Divine Sense at the Purple Mansion Realm Seventh Level keenly detected the other's robust and vast aura—Heaven-Reaching Realm Eighth Level!

The Situ Family's Young Lord truly lived up to his reputation.

"We are but strangers who have met by chance. Young Master Situ is too courteous. Please, have a seat."

Di Jingzhe's voice was flat as he gestured an invitation.

Feng Linger also nodded slightly. Her cool gaze lingered on Situ Lan for a moment before returning to her ancient zither, her fingers unconsciously stroking the strings.

Situ Lan sat down as invited. A servant promptly added exquisite cups and served warmed, aromatic Thunder Cloud Brew.

He personally poured wine for Di Jingzhe and Feng Linger, raised his cup, and said:

"You two seem unfamiliar, yet your thunder aura is pure and vast, truly outstanding among us thunder Cultivators. Meeting at my Soaring Cloud Tower is also fate. Situ Lan toasts you both."

Soaring Cloud Tower was the Situ Family's establishment. Situ Lan happened to be there on business today and faintly sensed a terrifying thunder power in the area, prompting him to seek acquaintance.

Di Jingzhe picked up his cup but did not drink immediately. He simply looked at the amber-colored wine and said indifferently:

"Young Master Situ overpraises us. We are merely two Loose Cultivators making a living in Thunder Prison Prefecture, hardly deserving of being called outstanding."

He deliberately suppressed the domineering, heaven-defying Origin aura of the Zixiao Divine Thunder, only revealing the pure thunder yuan fluctuations characteristic of the Thunder Spirit Body.

Situ Lan's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes grew brighter.

Loose Cultivators? So young, with such pure and profound thunder yuan Foundations, even making him, at Heaven-Reaching Realm Eighth Level, faintly feel an indescribable pressure deep in his Bloodline?

This was definitely not something ordinary Loose Cultivators could possess!

He set down his cup and asked casually: "Your bearing is extraordinary, far from ordinary. Might I inquire about your esteemed names? Situ Lan has quite a few connections in Thunder Prison Prefecture and might be able to offer you some convenience."

The atmosphere in the private room seemed to freeze for an instant.

Feng Linger's fingers on the zither paused slightly. Di Jingzhe raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as lightning, looking directly at Situ Lan, and slowly uttered three words:

"Di Jingzhe."

"Di... Jingzhe?"

Situ Lan's smile instantly stiffened, as if struck by an invisible bolt of thunder!

His hand holding the cup trembled violently, spilling a few drops of the fragrant Thunder Cloud Brew onto his luxurious brocade robe, staining it with dark marks, yet he remained oblivious.

His pupils contracted sharply, his incredulous gaze locked onto Di Jingzhe's young yet resolute and stern face.

This name... the Di Clan!

This youth was from the Di Clan. Then he thought of something else!

Could it be... the mysterious youth mentioned in his father's secret letter, who humiliated the Zhou Family and just destroyed Thunderclap Fortress, causing a Profound Venerable's fall?!

Could it be... him?!

A thunder-wielding youth, a zither-playing maiden!

Situ Lan's heart pounded wildly in his chest, like a drumbeat.

In an instant, countless pieces of information exploded in his mind: the Purple Mansion Realm calamity star the Zhou Family was pursuing with all their might... this youth before him who made him feel inexplicable pressure... was actually from the Di Clan!

He took a sharp breath, forcibly suppressing the storm of shock in his heart. A smile reappeared on his face, but it now carried unmistakable astonishment and a hint of reverence:

"So it's Brother Di! My apologies! My deepest apologies!"