Monarch Of Time

Chapter 1038 1038 A shaky heart

Liu Mei was the last one to leave the floor after choosing one of the relatively easier Wraith-class missions, leaving just Shun Long and Bai Longtian behind. Xingyi's and Jiang Chen's missions weren't much different from hers either, both of them at the bottom of the Wraith rank.

Still, considering how low-level Wraith-class missions involved assassinating late-stage Dao Kings, with mid-level ones targeting peak-stage Dao Kings, and high-level ones even going after early-stage Dao Emperors, their current missions couldn't be considered overly easy either.

After all, Lunar Grave always cautioned its members about their targets possibly having protectors secretly guarding them from the shadows, and that anyone who wanted to take on a mission would have to do their due diligence before they made their move.

Still, Shun Long didn't think for a moment that any of the trio would have trouble completing their missions.

Once everyone else was gone from the third floor, Bai Longtian finally turned to Shun Long and asked in a low, curious voice

''Brother Shun? You wanted to talk in private? Is something going on?'' Bai Longtian's voice was laced with a hint of puzzlement, clearly taken aback by Shun Long's request. Although the handsome youth wasn't a fan of killing— and was definitely not as suited for assassinations the same way Liu Mei, Jiang Chen, or Xingyi were with their respective Daos— he didn't think Shun Long would ask him to stay behind while everyone else was out taking on missions.

Glancing at his friend who had spent almost 15 years by his side, from the day they passed the Holy sect's test to now, Shun Long nodded his head and sat down on the hard wooden floor before Bai Longtian mirrored his movements and did the same.

Then, with a solemn look, Shun Long got straight to the point as he asked the question he'd been meaning to ask the youth for the past half a year

''Longtian, what did you see in the sixth trial?''

''The sixth trial...?'' Bai Longtian's surprise was even more evident this time, eventually giving way to a look of confusion. However, that confusion only lasted for the briefest of moments before the handsome 'middle-aged man' realized what Shun Long had been asking about.

The sixth trial! The Heavenly Tower's sixth trial!

For the first time in a while, Bai Longtian's face fell, and the normally composed youth now looked at Shun Long with a clearly conflicted expression.

''Brother Shun, do I really have to answer this?''

Shun Long could see the hesitation in Bai Longtian's eyes, almost as if he had breached a topic the youth didn't want to address. Even the disguise Bai Longtian wore couldn't mask his feelings.

However, this was one of those times where Shun Long was adamant about getting an answer. Of course, if it had been something minor, he would have glossed over it without a second thought. In fact, if Bai Longtian had failed in any other test of the 'Heavenly tower', Shun Long would have simply ignored it and moved on.

He could have attributed any other defeat to Bai Longtian simply lacking in strength or talent, even though he was just as talented as Jiang Chen. In reality, the only thing the handsome long-haired youth lacked when compared to Jiang Chen was an immortal-grade bloodline, and even that was something that could be obtained with enough luck and resources!

But the sixth trial of the Heavenly Tower was nothing like that. It was a matter of willpower. It had nothing to do with how strong or talented Bai Longtian was, and Shun Long knew that all too well. The only thing that test measured was how many doubts one carried in their Dao heart.

Shun Long could almost hear Bai Longtian's beating heart pounding in his chest as the youth's tumultuous emotions made him go silent. However, the more he hesitated, the more Shun Long understood that this was an issue Bai Longtian had to tackle. After all, if he didn't and let his heart fester with uncertainty, forget about becoming a Sovereign, he wouldn't even make it to the Dao Emperor realm!

A pure Dao heart, void of hesitation or doubt, was more important than any treasure to a powerful cultivator!

After staring at the wooden floor for a few moments, Bai Longtian took a deep breath and steeled himself before raising his gaze to meet Shun Long's, as the youth's calm voice reverberated throughout the empty floor

''Alright, then. Since you really want to know, brother Shun, I won't hide it from you. In the beginning, I didn't think the sixth trial was too hard either. Not much harder from the fifth trial at least. Even after seeing my father being tortured for days and our White palace getting destroyed, with all the servants dying miserable deaths, I still pushed through it. It was hard, but I could still tell that it was all an illusion trying to shake me. To start questioning whether my father could survive without me. But it was pointless. After all, my father is strong. Very strong. Even without me, he would never beg for help, let alone beg for his life. His death wasn't why I failed.''

Bai Longtian continued, but this time his voice was heavy, as if he was trying to get rid of a burden weighing on his shoulders this whole time. Then, his words echoed through gritted teeth

''The reason I failed was my own weakness. I saw you, brother Jiang, sister Liu, and sister Xie... and then myself. But unlike them, I am different. Unlike brother Jiang, I may not follow you unconditionally. After all, my mother isn't trapped in the 'Immortal Dimension' waiting to be saved. I do not have a tragic backstory like him. Unlike sister Liu, I have not been by your side since you started cultivating either, and unlike her and sister Xie, I am not your Dao partner either. But then, why do you trust me? WHY?'' Bai Longtian's voice was getting progressively louder as he spoke, and by the end of it, he sounded almost angry. Angry at Shun Long who put his trust in a complete stranger like him, and angry at himself for doubting him. Doubting both Shun Long and himself. This, was Bai Longtian's heart demon.