As expected, the emperor's guards were no pushovers!
Tang Changsheng thought this, but one thing must not be forgotten: he was a Mage. His true strength did not lie in his body.
Just then, a soft chuckle sounded. Emperor Mingde, the reigning emperor of Great Chu, rose to his feet and beckoned with a smile. "Come up here, boy. Let me see how you compare with your master."
Tang Changsheng bowed. "I'm nowhere near my master's level!"
Even as he said it, he started up the rockery.
The rockery was not tall, but its winding paths gave the impression of leading deep into some hidden place. Several hundred steps spiraled around the Mountain. Tang Changsheng had barely set foot on the first when his back tightened. It felt as though someone had fixed their gaze between his shoulder blades, exerting immense pressure. If he took another step, an attack would come at once.
Tang Changsheng merely smiled. With his next step, he slipped naturally free of the threat and onto the second stair.
Since Emperor Mingde had called this a little test, he might as well play along.
The next moment, Tang Changsheng clasped his hands behind his back and strolled upward as leisurely as if he were wandering through a garden.
The person hidden in the shadows, trying to hinder him, could no longer keep pace. One wrong step led to another, and no matter what they did, they remained a step behind Tang Changsheng.
In the blink of an eye, Tang Changsheng reached the middle of the climb. A low whistle suddenly rang out, and the expert guard he had noticed earlier charged down like a tiger descending the Mountain.
Before the man reached him, a fierce wind carrying a rank scent pressed down from above. Had Tang