Chapter 31 :The Savage, the Saint, and the Shifting Thrones

[SYSTEM UPDATE – STATUS REPORT]

Name: Jin

Level: 13

EXP: 610 / 1800

Power Class: Hybrid Tyrant Cultivator

Title: City Lord of Valeria

Attributes

Strength: 120

Vitality: 105

Agility: 87

Stamina: 93

Magic Power: 680

Speed: 88

Dexterity: 36

Blood Qi: 71 (Accumulated from combat + dual cultivation)

Bloodlines

Ancient Azure Dragon Bloodline – 35%

Blood Demon Lineage – 5% (Dormant)

Tyrant Body Physique – Silver Stage

Dragon Inheritance – Initiated

New Bloodline Detected: [Saint-Touched Essence – Under Review]

Techniques & Skills

Tyrant Body Arts (Silver Stage)

Wind Element Combat Technique – Intermediate

Blood Devour Sutra – Early Stage

Dragon Might – 1st Form (Suppression Aura)

Beast Weapon Forging Technique – Locked (Prerequisites In Progress)

Relationships & Bonds

Lana (Mother) – 100% Loyalty

Arielle – 89% Affection

Sarah – 76% Affection

Lila – 92% Affection | Bond: Intimate | Status: Claimed

??? (Sun Maiden) – Unknown | New Target of Fate

Quests

Rebuild Valeria – Phase 2

Survive Beast Horde – Active

Discover the Truth About the Royal Bloodlines – Ongoing

Locate Lost Phoenix Heart – Pending

Notifications

[WARNING]: Beast Horde Incoming – Estimated Arrival: 00:00:15

[Unlocked]: Beast Slayer Title – "First Blood" required

[New Presence Detected]: Solar Lineage – Saint-Touched

The morning after his intimate night with Lila, Jin rose as soft light filtered through broken shutters.

Lila still lay beside him, sleeping deeply, her golden hair spread like a crown over the pillow.

He exhaled slowly, rubbing his face. Then the system pinged with urgency.

[WARNING – BEAST HORDE HAS BREACHED THE OUTER FOREST BORDER]

The tranquility shattered like glass. Jin shot out of bed, pulling on his gear with practiced speed.

The ground beneath the manor trembled faintly. Roars echoed from the distant trees.

Arielle, Sarah, and Lana burst through the door—half-dressed in battle attire.

They stopped short at the sight.

Lila stood behind Jin, wearing only a light robe hastily wrapped around her.

Her lips were swollen from kisses, her body still flushed.

And Jin—his aura was boiling, primal, dominant. The mood darkened.

Arielle turned red but said nothing. Sarah's eyes twitched. Lana crossed her arms with a sigh.

"You could've at least placed a barrier," she muttered. "The whole west wing heard your… sparring."

Sarah coughed, looking away. Arielle mumbled under her breath, "I thought I had a high endurance stat."

Lila, bold as ever, stepped forward, defiant. "He's mine now."

Jin raised an eyebrow. "We can sort this later. The horde is coming."

He stepped out. Behind him, the wind howled. Trees bent, birds scattered.

They moved to the courtyard where citizens and cultivators had gathered. Some trembled, others clenched their weapons.

In the center of the chaos stood a girl. The one they had rescued days ago.

She was now awake, barefoot on the stone, the wind dancing around her glowing body.

Golden runes flickered along her arms. A faint radiance poured from her eyes.

[New Bloodline Detected: Solar Lineage – Sun God's Blessing – Saint Rank]

[Identity Confirmed: Maiden of the Temple of the Sun – Helena Solheart]

Helena opened her eyes. Her voice was soft but powerful.

"I remember now. I was fleeing the Temple. Betrayers sold me out. But the sun has not abandoned me."

She looked at Jin and bowed.

"My fate is now tied to yours, City Lord."

Jin didn't have time to question it. Because then the first beast came.

A massive horned dire-boar, crimson fur bristling with dark miasma, charged through the shattered walls.

"Form up!" Jin bellowed, his voice carrying.

He leapt. Wind wrapped around his feet as he soared forward.

The boar squealed in fury—but Jin's body, radiating Dragon Might, slammed into it mid-charge.

Crack! Ribs shattered. It flew back like a ragdoll, smashing into a ruined pillar.

"Don't let them scatter!" Lana shouted, leading Earth and Water cultivators in defensive formations.

Lila, now dressed and armed, sliced through a two-headed wolf. Her blade crackled with green light.

Arielle conjured sharp wind blades that cut down flying shadow ravens.

Sarah protected the wounded, forming a glowing dome of purification.

Helena—the Saint-blooded maiden—raised her arms.

The clouds parted.

A beam of golden light struck down like divine judgment, incinerating a miasma-born ape mid-roar.

Jin stood atop a beast's corpse, shirtless, soaked in blood, eyes glowing with fury.

Meanwhile…

In the capital, the atmosphere was tense.

The once-proud city was under curfew.

The king's condition worsened. Limbs thin, eyes dim and watery.

He coughed blood as nobles surrounded him.

Some loyal. Some already vultures.

Among them were foreign dignitaries—smiling too much, bowing too deeply.

They sought to install a puppet prince. The First, Second, or maybe a nephew loyal to their interests.

The old king finally saw clearly.

Those who visited often eyed his throne.

Those absent—his true children.

"Where… is Jin…?" he rasped. No one answered.

In the Princess Training Hall…

The embroidery session took a dark tone.

Today, the young women embroidered chains around phoenixes—a clear message of submission.

One girl, barely fifteen, sobbed silently trying to finish her pattern.

Another, eighteen and of noble birth, clenched her needle so hard it snapped.

"My marriage is next week," she whispered. "To a warlord I've never spoken to."

"And mine," said another, "is to a count who killed his last wife."

"But if we run—"

"We'll be killed."

Unless…

A shadow passed the door.

It was the Matron.

Silent. Calm.

Later that night, one princess slipped out, shivering in the dark.

She bumped into the matron.

The girl fell to her knees. "Please don't turn me in. I… I want to find my brother. Prince Jin. I heard he's alive."

The matron stared. Then slowly reached out a hand.

"I'll help you."

The girl's eyes widened. "Why?"

The matron only smiled.

"I taught your mother to sew. She would've done the same."

Back in Valeria…

Jin slaughtered the last of the horde's first wave.

Around him, flames crackled, water surged, earth shifted, healing light glowed.

The city had stood.

For now.

He walked to the edge of the courtyard, muscles sore, aura barely contained.

Lila limped to his side, her blade stained, her hair wild.

"We survived," she said.

"Barely," Jin replied.

Then he glanced at Helena, who stood beside Sarah and Arielle.

Three beautiful women. Different. Powerful. Staring at him.

He sighed. "The storm's just beginning."

The system pinged.

[Valeria Defense Successful – Wave 1 Repelled]

[Next Wave – ETA: 6 Days]

[Saint Maiden Bond Level Rising – Helena: 42%]