[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-guarding-the-river-of-time":3,"chapter-guarding-the-river-of-time-guarding-the-river-of-time-chapter-250":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Guarding the River of Time",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},302875,569,"Chapter 250 - 244: Lantern Patrol at Night, An Old Friend Returns with Karma","guarding-the-river-of-time-chapter-250",250,"\u003Cp>When he fell to the ground, he happened to hit a very hard and sharp rock on the riverbank, bruising Su Mu’s knee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Mu quickly stood up and looked at the ground in front of him, seeing something that seemed to be a smooth, glowing object buried in the sand....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After approaching, crouching down and carefully brushing away the sand on the surface, he could finally see what was inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A shell?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a very large shell, about a meter in diameter, shaped like an ordinary scallop, with a deep golden color and shimmering patterns on its surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon closer inspection, you could see silver fan-like patterns on the shell’s surface, strange designs that seemed more like they were painted on than part of the original shell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holding it in his hand, it was exceptionally heavy, and even for Su Mu, it required both hands to lift it without using any Spiritual Power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After examining it from all sides, Su Mu felt not a trace of a Spiritual Power fluctuation from this scallop shell. It seemed like a completely ordinary shell, just larger in size and of an unusual color.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, having patrolled the river for years, searching for treasures and robbing them, what had he interacted with the most?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he had the most interactions with \"treasures.\" Thus, he had developed a keen eye, and no treasure could escape his discerning gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With just one look, Su Mu determined that this scallop shell was definitely not simple!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Best to keep it for now and study it thoroughly at home. Don’t disrupt his work routine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was close to dark when Su Mu finally wrapped up for the day and headed home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His luck had been great these past few days; the recent Cross River Men earned him a big haul of Favor Points!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially with that one guy, clueless as to where he came from, probably with a screw loose, causing trouble on the river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment they met, he charged at Su Mu with a clenched fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would Su Mu put up with that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been ages since anyone this bold appeared, so he gave him a thorough beating. But that guy’s stubbornness was real; it took several rounds before he was beaten into submission, begging for mercy on his knees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To punish such troublemakers, Su Mu stripped him of all his treasures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This haul left Su Mu pleasantly shocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This guy... a walking treasure trove!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The treasures on him were almost as much as what Su Mu would loot in several months, and of a high level at that, a real goldmine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After being looted, the guy got defiant again, resorting to punches and kicks against Su Mu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would Su Mu tolerate him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another round of beatings, like dealing with a pesky chick, thoroughly from head to toe, leaving him almost out of breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Su Mu spared his life, forcing him to sign a \"hefty debt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, the guy ran off crying, tripping and stumbling, figuratively calling for his parents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Su Mu is a principled person, he gives no leeway to those causing trouble on the river, beating them relentlessly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All in all, Su Mu collected three hundred thousand Favor Points altogether!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This instantly increased his River Affinity to 23%, bringing him one step closer to success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Mu estimated that at his current rate of earning Favor Points, a conservative estimate was that it would take a maximum of ten, certainly no more than twenty years, to completely refine this wretched river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he could leave this godforsaken place and spread his wings in broader horizons, rather than languishing in this small region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>......\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back home, he had a simple dinner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nannan’s cooking skills were getting better, with different dishes every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While maintaining the taste, the original Power of Spiritual Charm in the food was preserved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the dinner Su Mu ate was not just ordinary meals, but Supreme Treasures and Great Medicine, each bite a nourishing tonic, greatly beneficial for cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a satisfying meal, Su Mu took out the golden big shell he had picked up during the day, placed it on the ground, and began to study it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after trying various methods, he couldn’t pry open the shell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Mu believed the true treasure must be hidden inside the shell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unable to open it, coupled with the exceptionally sturdy shell, most Attack Treasures couldn’t leave a mark on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, if Su Mu wanted to, he could forcefully break it open with the Silver Dagger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But doing so would shatter the shell entirely, and if there were no treasure inside, or if the items inside became useless due to the shattered shell, that would be a great loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, prying the shell open was necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He found a treasure shaped like a plier-scissors set from his collection to start prying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After over an hour of prying, with his face flushed and covered in sweat, he hadn’t moved it a millimeter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he persisted for two more hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack——\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, a sound was heard, and the shell’s opening...opened up...one millimeter!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all that effort, it was just one millimeter!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This infuriated Su Mu greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after it was pried open a tiny bit, a wisp of seven-colored misty light emanated from inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon sensing the aura of this misty light, Su Mu’s pupils shrank, revitalized with great interest, he rolled up his sleeves, activated his Cultivation Technique, and continued prying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Su Mu was busy prying open the shell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong——\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong——\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dull sound came from the pitch-black river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Su Mu stopped his actions and turned to look downstream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong——\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound continued, resembling a drumbeat upon a closer listen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like the city watchmen in the mortal world, striking their gongs during night patrols, but this sound was less sharp and more muffled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Mu had guarded the river for so many years, encountering Cross River Men mostly during the day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who in their right mind would cross the river at night?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either up to no good or attempting to smuggle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although encounters at night were rare, he had had one or two before, although they were incidents from a year or two ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One time, it was an odd, eccentric old woman attempting to smuggle through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Mu found her and sent her packing immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At night, people on the river are either disposing bodies or drugging it, with some night-fishing enthusiasts involved too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crossing the river at night, banging a broken gong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s the intention here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drawing him out to provoke him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or is it another clueless troublemaker?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, prying the shell was already making Su Mu irritable, and now, right in the middle of the night, someone’s banging a broken gong on the river, riling Su Mu up, prompting his furious march towards the river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By this time, the old Cyan Ox, lying down and napping in the backyard, also abruptly raised its head upon hearing the gong sound, gazing towards the dark water surface.\u003C\u002Fp>",1182,"2026-05-29T18:57:15.942Z","2026-06-01T04:30:00.195Z",1,"novelbin.me","d2c0cfadc42fb4b4ff682619e54eb323500093f8b04353ce5ee74f74420b5534","guarding-the-river-of-time-chapter-51","guarding-the-river-of-time-chapter-249",583,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fguarding-the-river-of-time-cover.jpg"]