A Man Like None Other (Jared Chance) novel Chapter 6765

The girl on the stone pillar was already close to collapse. Her face was as pale as paper, her breathing fast and weak, and each rise of her chest was shallower than the last.

She looked at the middle-aged man atop the wave and moved her lips as if trying to speak. No sound emerged, but the shape of her mouth conveyed three faint words: "Do not agree..."

The Water Clan leader watched her, his fist clenched so tightly that his knuckles creaked and turned white as frost.

His silver hair lashed in the sea wind like a banner being torn apart by a storm.

He remained silent for 50 full seconds. Each passing moment seemed to slice into his own flesh.

The five Water Clan cultivators behind him had also balled their hands into fists. Dark red veins showed beneath their indigo skin like lava about to erupt.

"One Sea Soul Pearl," the man forced through gritted teeth. "I will give you one, but you must release her first."

The richly dressed man shook his head. "I take possession of the pearl before she goes free."

"You do not trust the Water Clan?"

"I don't trust anyone." The man smiled, returned to his chair, and lifted his teacup. "She leaves when the pearl arrives.

"Until then, she stays here. Don't worry. I'll have someone give her water, so she won't die anytime soon."

The middle-aged cultivator fixed him with a furious stare. Rage heaved within his ocean-dark eyes like a tsunami on the verge of breaking through a seawall.

In the end, however, he did nothing.

He looked long and hard at the man on the platform, then at the girl on the pillar. When he spoke, his voice held cold fury forced to its limit.

"You will pay for the choice you made today. I swear in the name of the Water Clan that this matter will not end here."

"I'll be waiting," the richly dressed man replied with the same smile.

The Water Clan leader said no more.

His gaze swept across the island and paused briefly on Jared.

A minute ripple passed through his deep-sea eyes, as though he had detected an unusual aura.

His brow shifted, but his expression quickly returned to normal.

Then he turned away. His silver hair traced an arc through the air as he rode the water into the distance.

The 330-foot wave slowly withdrew and dispersed into the Void Sea like an ebbing tide.

Layer after layer of water collapsed into rolling surf. The five other Water Clan cultivators followed their leader until all six vanished beneath the dark blue surface.

The sea grew calm once more, and sunlight returned to the island as though everything that had just happened were an illusion.

For a long time, the crowd stood silent. Then an even louder clamor broke out.

"That's it? They're simply leaving?"

"I thought the Water Clan was supposed to be fierce. Why did they simply walk away?"

"What do you know? He demanded a Sea Soul Pearl! That's the Water Clan's lifeblood. They went back to fetch it and trade for the girl!"

"Who is that man on the platform? How can he threaten the Water Clan like this?"

"He's Damian Shore, the lord of Azurewave Island. He's at the peak of Grand Zenith Immortal Level Two and has ruled these waters for more than 10,000 years. No one can afford to provoke him."

Speculation, amazement, and excited discussion spread through the crowd like another tide.

Some people were relieved that no battle had begun. Others regretted missing a spectacle. Many began predicting how the exchange would end.

Jared remained where he was, his violet gaze resting on the newly tranquil sea.

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