Su Mu

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Su Mu (苏穆)
Alias(es)	River Warden; Lord God; Master of the Shepherd Heaven God Alliance
Species/Race	Human; transmigrator from Blue Star
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Shepherd Heaven God Alliance; the River of Time
Occupation/Role	River Warden and guardian of the River of Time
Status	Alive; ultimately gains complete control of the River of Time 627
First Appearance	Chapter 7

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Qi Refining Fifth Stage	8	His initial recorded cultivation; upgrades the Azure Heaven Dragon Transformation Art to its first level with Favor Points. River Affinity: 0.03%. 8
Purple Mansion Great Perfection	16	Reached after consuming a tiny fraction of Li Qi Ye's golden heart; gains a second, pale-gold heart and a body strengthened more than a hundredfold. 16
Great Ascension Initial Stage	17	Breaks through after obtaining and raising Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength; forms ten Divine Elephant Particles. 17
Great Ascension Completion	21	His strengthened body further integrates the golden heart, taking him from the initial stage to completion. 21
Half-Step Transformation Spirit Realm	23	Recorded while his Divine Sense was still limited to a one-kilometer radius before consuming the willow's spirit fruit. 23
Transformation Spirit Five Treasures	47	Comprehends the Law of Space and advances both major cultivation arts to the fourth layer. 47
Tribulation Transcendence Realm	48	Endures a day of the White Kui Medicine King's destructive medicinal power, relying on his regenerative body to survive the breakthrough. 48
River Affinity: 0.7%	57	Spends 30,000 Favor Points after receiving feedback from his contract with Chaos Golden Spirit. 57
Ascension Realm, Level Seven	72	Raises Azure Heaven Dragon Transformation Art and Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength to their fifth layers, gaining two minor realms. 72
Ascension Great Perfection	81	Recorded after his water-beast roster expands and his Divine Abilities reach Level 3. 81
First Realm Human Immortal	90	Raises River Affinity from 1% to 1.5% after accumulating more than 75,000 Favor Points. 90
First Realm Heavenly Immortal	117	Possesses seventh-layer Azure Heaven Dragon Transformation Art and Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength, plus tenth-layer Saint Abyss Art. River Affinity reaches 7%. 117
Fourth Realm Heavenly Immortal	124	Breaks through after attaining enlightenment during a Stone Ring dream-life as a scholar named Su Mu. 124
Fifth Stage Heavenly Immortal	134	Comprehends the first volume of the God Slaying Treasure Technique and breaks through. 134
Heavenly Immortal Completion	159	A Pan Peach elevates him through the eighth and ninth realms to completion. 159
River Affinity: 10%	162	Reaches a major affinity threshold while maintaining Heavenly Immortal Completion. 162
Nine Lifetimes Immortal King Apertures	203	Fills six apertures, then completes a despair-themed reincarnation to cultivate the seventh. 203
Peerless Immortal King	227	Completes the Nine Lifetimes Immortal King Body and directly enters the Peerless Immortal King Realm. River Affinity: 15%. 227
River Affinity: 20%	230	Unlocks greater river convenience and raises Water Manipulation to Level 6, doubling its range and power. 230
Immortal King Overlord	262	Refines Fang Yuan's transparent cicada, advancing two minor realms from Peerless Immortal King. River Affinity: 25%. 262
Immortal Emperor Realm	319	Refines an origin-like crystal treasure and enters the Immortal Emperor Realm. 319
Realm above Immortal Emperor	341	Absorbs Zheng Yi's golden-pill sacrifice, including his cultivation, Daoist arts, and memories; also gains control of the Compass World. 341
River Affinity: 60%	352	Gains control over the Long River's environment and the ability to teleport across it. 352
Dao Integration Fifth Stage	355	His reported realm during Li Qi Ye's return to the River of Time. 355
Dao Severing Completion	436	The Black and White Streamer enters his body, sprouting the Black and White Divine Tree in his dantian and transforming his spiritual power toward Origin Power. 436
Half-Step Immortal Realm	482	The Square Cauldron merges with the Black and White Divine Tree, ending a prior stagnation. 482
Immortality Ninth Stage	587	Reaches this stage as River Affinity rises to 95%; only the final 5% remains. 587
Complete control of the River of Time	627	Wins the final battle, fully controls the River of Time, and becomes an existence transcending ordinary cultivation. 627

Background

Su Mu was twenty-eight when he transmigrated from Blue Star. More than four years into guarding the River of Time, he describes himself as thirty-two years old. He patrols its channels, maintains order, collects River Crossing Fees, and earns Favor Points by aiding stranded creatures and resolving disturbances. 7 204

His early cultivation began through the Azure Heaven Dragon Transformation Art, obtained through a Favor Point lottery. The system's point-based upgrades enabled him to rapidly develop techniques that he initially found nearly impossible to comprehend on his own. 8

A defining early encounter was with Li Qi Ye, who offered his own refined golden heart as a River Crossing Fee. Absorbing even a minute portion of the heart gave Su Mu a second heart and sent his cultivation to Purple Mansion Great Perfection. 15 16

The Stone Ring later places Su Mu in a prolonged dream-life as a scholar. After becoming the Da Fu Kingdom's Number One Scholar, he realizes political status is powerless without cultivation, secludes himself to study the Dao, and reaches enlightenment beside his dying wife, Mo Wanwan. On awakening, he recognizes the experience as a dream and breaks through as an immortal. 124

Appearance

After assimilating Li Qi Ye's golden heart, Su Mu grows to roughly 1.85 meters tall. His physique becomes proportioned and powerful rather than bulky, while his bearing undergoes a marked transformation. 16

• Possesses an original flesh-colored heart and a second pale-gold heart. 16
• His body is exceptionally resilient, repeatedly recovering from medicinal power that would destroy weaker cultivators. 48
• His physical strength eventually surpasses the Law Manifestation of Heaven and Earth through a single punch. 339

Personality

Su Mu is practical and openly motivated by benefit. He recognizes that he often considers profit first, particularly through Favor Points and River Crossing Fees, yet his pursuit of gain frequently coincides with protecting the river's ecology and helping those in danger. 406 536

He is patient, methodical, and willing to consolidate his foundation rather than spend all his Favor Points impulsively. He studies techniques, tests treasures cautiously, and examines gifts for hidden dangers before allowing Nannan to use them. 17 96

Despite his self-described selfishness, Su Mu is strongly protective of those he accepts as his own. He rescues Nannan from the river, treats his Spirit Beasts as family, rewards useful work fairly, and prioritizes Nannan's safety even when it restricts her freedom. 91 79 249

He prefers not to initiate conflict, but responds decisively when attacked. He considers circumstances before judging others, yet will kill enemies who seek his life or threaten his home. 262 276 609

Abilities & Skills

River Warden Authority

Su Mu's bond with the River of Time is the basis of his daily work and a major source of power.

• Uses Water Manipulation to freeze water, halt drifting vessels, redirect currents, and maintain river order. 7 91
• Can walk atop the River of Time and make the water beneath his feet slow to match his pace. 7 497
• At 60% River Affinity, gains environmental control and teleportation across the Long River. 352
• When standing on the Long River, he can replenish an emptied spiritual-power reserve instantaneously, allowing effectively limitless combat endurance there. 513
• At the end of his journey, gains complete control of the River of Time. 627

Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength

A supreme body-and-qi cultivation art obtained through a Favor Point lottery.

• Converts flesh-and-blood particles into Divine Elephant Particles and manifests a divine-elephant phantom. 17
• Its fourth layer gives Su Mu more than 1.1 million Divine Elephant Particles. 47
• Its perfected final stage, Unexpected True Self, manifests as a seven-colored chaotic eternal flower. 609
• Lets Su Mu compete physically with Wu Di, a pure body cultivator known for Body Refinement to Sainthood, and ultimately suppress him. 565

Saint Abyss Art

A high-level recovery and survival art that Su Mu found beneath a river stone.

• Raised to the tenth level through Favor Points. 115
• The Saint Abyss Nine Forms can restore him after severe attacks; an ordinary Earth Immortal could use it only three times in battle, while Su Mu can use it ten times in an hour. 115
• Requires an enemy to kill him repeatedly in rapid succession to overcome its restorative effect. 115

Reincarnation and Immortal King Body

Su Mu cultivates through reincarnation experiences as well as conventional methods.

• Fills the Nine Lifetimes Immortal King Apertures through lived reincarnation experiences, including despair and mortal-world lives. 203 226
• Completes the Nine Lifetimes Immortal King Body and directly enters the Peerless Immortal King Realm. 227
• Later recognizes dream-lives as genuine sources of insight, identity, and cultivation breakthroughs. 124 402

Black and White Divine Tree

A black-and-white tree rooted in Su Mu's dantian after he absorbs Innate Yin Yang Qi.

• Formed from two strands of the five Innate Yin Yang Qi; it is incomplete, with further strands still unaccounted for. 445
• Transforms his dantian and spiritual power, introducing a trace of Origin Power. 436
• Can produce black-and-white leaves carrying an unmistakable origin aura. 501
• Merges with the Square Cauldron to push Su Mu into the Half-Step Immortal Realm. 482

Divine Sense and Deduction

Su Mu's perception and reasoning improve alongside his cultivation.

• A willow spirit fruit expands his Divine Sense from one kilometer to two kilometers. 23
• Uses Divine Sense to derive more than one hundred ways to break a chess deadlock against Jiang Qing, forcing the latter to concede. 248
• Can divide his Divine Sense into countless strands to search an opponent's Sea of Consciousness for hidden avatars. 621

Cultivation Arts and Laws

• Azure Heaven Dragon Transformation Art — Su Mu's first cultivation art, obtained through lottery; developed to at least the eighth layer. 8 262
• Nine Secrets — A complete nine-part method represented by the characters Presence, Soldier, Dou, Healer, All, Number, Assemble, Future, and Travel. 117
• God Slaying Treasure Technique — A high-ranking innate treasure technique found inside a stone given by Little Six. 130 134
• Law of Space and Law of Light — Recorded among his mastered Laws. 117
• Water Manipulation and Swimming — Divine Abilities repeatedly strengthened through River Affinity and Favor Points. 90 230

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Black and White Compass — Blood-bound to Su Mu; contains the Yang Departure Return Heaven Art, Yin Kan Earth Mother Art, and Yin Yang Creation Art. 62
• Stone Ring — A spatial ring that aids cultivation and initiates Su Mu's scholar dream-life. 123 124
• Progenitor Dragon Horn — Given by Zhang Renzhong; capable of awakening the Progenitor Dragon Clan, including Dragon Emperors and Immortal Kings. 161
• Coordinate Stones — Two stones given by Hou Tu to help locate remaining strands of Innate Yin Yang Qi. 445
• Fishing Rod — A wooden rod Su Mu made himself and stores in his Dantian Space. 500
• Merit Soil, incense burner, and incense — Gifts from Jiang Qing after Su Mu defeats him at chess. 248

Relationships

• Nannan — Su Mu's adopted daughter. He finds her abandoned in a basin on the river, raises her as “Daddy,” and fiercely protects her despite knowing he is not her biological father. 91 441 480
• Li Qi Ye — Initially a River Crossing Person who pays with a golden heart; later becomes Su Mu's trusted friend and ally after Su Mu helps reunite him with A Fei. 15 16 459 584
• Little Mahi — Su Mu's early contracted water beast. It retrieves treasure fish and helps capture stronger river creatures. 11 79
• Little Fox / Xiao Bai — A formerly solitary fox that follows Su Mu on patrol, returns his lost belongings, kills ambushers protecting him, and remains loyal after his defeat. 273 276 347
• Old Green Ox — A Spirit Pet originally tied to Jiang Yuan/Jiang Qing; Su Mu accepts responsibility for it after learning its fate is to follow him. 249
• Zhen Yuanzi — Reclusive Daoist master and fellow Daoist. He respects Su Mu's work maintaining the river and regards Su Mu's guidance of Little Monkey as a change in fate. 214
• Hou Tu / Houtu Goddess — An ancient Great Personage who explains the origins of Su Mu's Black and White Divine Tree and entrusts him with Coordinate Stones. 391 445
• Wu Di — Pure body cultivator and master blacksmith. After losing a physical contest to Su Mu, he decides Su Mu is worthy to wield the strongest weapon he intends to forge. 565
• Fang Yuan — A cultivator whose transparent cicada helps Su Mu reach Immortal King Overlord; later becomes Su Mu's first formally recruited cultivator. 262 537
• Yang Qi — A Chaos Figure and hostile cultivator who possesses an inferior version of Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength; Su Mu kills him with a time dragon. 605 609
• Gu Chensha — A final adversary who imprisons Nannan to compromise Su Mu and can manipulate Time Water despite Su Mu's river authority. 619 620

Story Role / Major Arcs

River Patrol and Early Cultivation

Su Mu begins as the River of Time's practical guardian, collecting tolls, rescuing stranded creatures, contracting water beasts, and converting Favor Points into cultivation. His early encounters with Li Qi Ye and Little Mahi establish both his rapid growth and his habit of turning river incidents into opportunities. 11 15 16

Building a Household and Following

After rescuing Nannan, Su Mu's isolated life becomes centered on protecting and educating her. His growing group of Spirit Beasts, disciples, and believers eventually develops into the Shepherd Heaven God Alliance, where he is revered as Lord God and Master. 91 257 265 402

Hidden Enemies and the Compass Worlds

Su Mu becomes the target of a long-running conspiracy involving Chaos Figures, fabricated worlds, and manipulated chess pieces. Zheng Yi's sacrifice grants Su Mu a realm above the Immortal Emperor and reveals that the worlds destroyed during their battle were real. 275 339 341

Refining the Long River

As his River Affinity rises, Su Mu gains increasingly absolute authority over the Long River. He treats its refinement as both a route to freedom and a responsibility, working relentlessly toward complete control while preparing contingencies for Nannan and his companions. 352 513 584 587

Final Struggle

Su Mu confronts the Three Pure Ones, Yang Qi, Fang Han, and Gu Chensha while trying to return to and protect his home. After the final battle, he completely controls the River of Time, but his victory is overshadowed by Nannan's death; he remains behind at her grave while Little Fox and Dong'er silently keep him company. 590 609 619 627

Notable Quotes

“There is no absolute distinction between good and evil in this world. There are only differences in ideals and circumstances.” 262

“Do what you believe is right, and then it is right.” 262

“To seek the Dao, to seek the Dao—isn't it to seek the Dao of one's true heart?” 578

Trivia

• Su Han mistakes Su Mu's stated age of thirty-two years for thirty-two epochs, because he assumes anyone walking on the River of Time must be immeasurably old. 204
• Su Mu dislikes Su Han's Dragon Ovum Tea, finding it too astringent, but drinks it politely to avoid offending his host. 204
• He often uses a straw hat, basket, hoe, dagger, and sickle while patrolling and tending the riverbank. 96