Guarding the River of Time-Chapter 388 - 378: Three-Legged Golden Crow! What Do You Mean, "Your Private Waters"?

Chapter 388: Chapter 378: Three-Legged Golden Crow! What Do You Mean, "Your Private Waters"?

Walking step by step towards the center of the reservoir where the black fog was.

When he got closer, he used his divine techniques and waved his hand at the black fog.

The black fog was dispersed, revealing another layer of white fog inside. After dispersing it again, there was yet another black fog. Altogether, there were ten layers of fog. Once they were all cleared, the contents of the fog cluster became visible.

....

Inside the mist was a floating island, similar to Zhang Ruochen’s cave residence, also elevated by a white lotus beneath it.

However, the island was somewhat smaller than Zhang Ruocheng’s, and the most striking feature was a large tree on the floating island.

This tree, with its canopy spread wide, took up the entire sky above the floating island, resembling a fiery cloud reflected on the water’s surface.

As he approached the floating island, the temperature increased, reaching its peak once he got close. However, to Su Mu, it only felt somewhat warming, not scorching.

Once on the floating island, his view cleared.

This fiery red tree had leaves shaped like maple leaves, with each leaf full of blood-red veins, resembling blood vessels with blood flowing continuously within.

Thump—

Thump—

Thump—

Upon closer listening, there came a rhythmic thumping sound, like a heartbeat, echoing from within the maple tree, each pulsation releasing heat that spread outward to the surrounding waters.

Su Mu came under the maple tree and, extending his right hand, felt a powerful surge of vitality power the moment he touched the trunk.

Rustle—

There was movement from the treetop.

The next second, two birds flew out of the massive fiery tree crown, landing in front of Su Mu, watching him with extreme vigilance.

These were two Golden Crows, each colossal, about ten meters long, with scarlet-gold feathers. Their three-legged feet were covered in dense scales, glinting with dots of golden light, their eyes like divine furnaces, pupils flickering like a sacred flame.

Suspended in air, they exuded a divine nobleness and oppressive force.

The Three-legged Golden Crow, a divine beast from mythology, looked exactly as depicted in the ancient texts and images.

After guarding the river for so many years, it was Su Mu’s first time seeing a divine beast. As for birds, he had previously only seen ordinary small birds, at most some spiritual birds like the Fire Cloud Sparrow.

...

Upon a careful look, there were some differences between the two Golden Crows.

The one on the left was a size bigger, its feathers deeper, a dark golden shade, with more intense divine fire in its pupils.

The one on the right was a bit smaller, its feathers tinted a reddish color.

Both Golden Crows exerted immense pressure, but upon close inspection, their auras seemed weak, likely due to severe injuries.

....

"Why have you intruded into my territory?"

At this moment, the larger Golden Crow roared at Su Mu in a voice full of majesty, causing the maple leaves to rustle loudly.

"Your territory?"

Su Mu was stunned. If seriously calculated, this entire river was his domain.

"Leave now!" The other Golden Crow also angrily berated Su Mu.

...

Seeing the two Golden Crows prepare to act, Su Mu grew provoked as well.

His primary duty was to guard this river and maintain the tranquility of the Long River. These two Golden Crows seemed to be either cultivating or healing here, treating this vast watery expanse as a "furnace cauldron," leaving no water beasts or creatures in the river alive!

Moreover, their influence was expanding. If left unchecked, who knew how many water domains would suffer calamity, how many creatures would be burned and turned to ashes?

If this happened elsewhere, Su Mu wouldn’t care; after all, he wasn’t a Great Saint Mother or someone who meddles in everything.

But this river was his guarded domain.

Such cruel, limitless burning of the water domain was tantamount to disrupting the water’s stability, affecting his refining progress.

Since the system was very intelligent and perceptive, if Su Mu encountered such severe disturbances and stood by idly, his luck would soon turn for the worse.

....

"What if I refuse to leave?" Su Mu smiled, staring directly at the two Golden Crows.

These words instantly made the atmosphere tense, as though conflict was imminent.

The two Golden Crows only stared intensely at Su Mu, their verbal bluster notwithstanding, they were hesitant to act.

Because they couldn’t perceive the cultivation realm of this Human Race cultivator, whose oppressive presence was formidable.

Their healing spot, hidden within the River of Time, was chosen for its secretive nature, to avoid being found.

But this man managed not only to locate the place but also to move to the island effortlessly.

Thus, his power was evident!

...

"Don’t force me to act!"

The smaller Golden Crow, more hot-tempered, glared at Su Mu, threatening fiercely.

"Then go ahead." Su Mu, arms crossed, smiled at them.

From the look of their aura, these two Golden Crows weren’t his match, so Su Mu wasn’t the least bit intimidated. Divine beasts or not, as long as they dared to cause havoc on his river, he’d tear off their wings. Roasted Golden Crow wing wasn’t a bad delicacy; Su Mu wouldn’t mind a taste.

"You!"

Faced with such brazen audacity, the little Golden Crow’s eyes reddened, yet it still didn’t dare to act.

"Fellow Daoist, this is our territory. Your intrusion is rather impolite, isn’t it?"

The Great Golden Crow, more composed, understood not to provoke a fight and aimed to negotiate. However, its stance remained firm, showing no weakness, lest they appeared easily manipulated, losing face from the outset.

"Your territory?"

"This river, top to bottom, every inch, is my territory."

"In fact, if you carefully consider it, everything on this river is my private possession, including the place you’re standing on, all part of my personal domain."

"It wasn’t me who intruded into your territory, but you who have trespassed into mine."

Su Mu stated emphatically to the two Golden Crows.

Bound to the River Guardian System, this river was his first mission and his first domain.

If he couldn’t safeguard even this small river’s dominion, how could he dream of expanding further, establishing schools, waging wars across the Ten Thousand Realms?

He was not entirely uncharitable, like how he wouldn’t charge Zhang Ruochen for living on the river; the man was considerate after all.

But these Golden Crows wanted him gone?

Did they not understand rank and authority?

Were they defying the celestial order?

...

Hearing this, the two Golden Crows were dumbfounded, exchanging looks with wide eyes.

Private... personal domain??

They looked around, confirming this was indeed the River of Time.

The River of Time, your personal domain??? 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

This statement surpassed their comprehension, causing their tiny minds to shrink somewhat.

...

When did the River of Time become private property?

The Golden Crows gazed at the Human Race cultivator, not detecting a hint of jest in his expression; he was dead serious.