"Ladies and Gentlemen, today heralds the onset of a monumental occasion in the annals of the Deep Sea Palace - the Oceanic Crown Tournament. This grand tournament seeks to identify the mightiest among us, and the victor will ascend to the exalted position of the New Ruler of our Deep Sea Palace Empire. Before we set this historic event in motion, it is essential to acquaint everyone with the rules and regulations that will govern the proceedings of this tournament." The crowd hushed into a keen anticipation, hanging on to every word of the announcement.
[The Oceanic Crown Tournament operates under the following guidelines and stipulations:
1. The act of causing fatal harm to another competitor is strictly prohibited. Any violator of this rule will be subject to a century-long term of imprisonment. Depending on the severity of the violation, the period of confinement may be extended.
2. The participants of The Oceanic Crown Tournament are precluded from employing any artifacts, armors, pets, or mounts. The tournament permits the use of weapons up to the classification of 3-star-grade. In the event a participant is detected employing a weapon of 4-star grade or beyond, immediate disqualification will ensue, and further punitive measures will be implemented.
3. The ingestion of any variety of pill or potion whilst engaged in combat is disallowed. Post-victory, participants may avail themselves of healing pills or other comparable remedies. However, any pills or potions that temporarily augment the participant's physical attributes or magical prowess, such as strength, agility, stamina, or Mana, are expressly banned. Only healing potions and pills are sanctioned for use.
All participants are urged to bear these rules in mind when stepping onto the battlefield. A dedicated team of a thousand overseers will monitor the proceedings vigilantly, ensuring no transgressions or deceitful practices occur.]
"A powerful and invisible forcefield has been erected around the combat arena, designed to shield our esteemed spectators from any potential harm arising from the intense clashes within the battlefield. Your safety is our primary concern," the mermaid announcer, an enchanting vision of beauty with cascading waves of blue hair, continued to address the eagerly awaiting crowd.
"As many of you are already aware, this tournament is set to span seven full days. Now, let's shed some light on the specific structure of the tournament. Rest assured that each contender has earned their position in this competition through a rigorous demonstration of their impressive capabilities."
"We have divided the 48 brave participants of The Oceanic Crown Tournament into two primary groups, namely Group A and Group B. Each of these groups houses 24 skilled competitors. Further refining this arrangement, each primary group has been subdivided into six smaller clusters, each consisting of four participants. From both Group A and B, only a total of 32 participants can progress into the nerve-wracking elimination round. To put it simply, only 16 contenders from each group can advance to this stage."
"Moving on to the crucial aspect of qualification - it will be based on a point system. Each sub-group consisting of four participants will compete against each other. Victory will earn the successful participant 3 points, while a loss will, unfortunately, result in no points being awarded. In the rare event of a draw, both contenders will earn a point. Eventually, the top two scorers from each sub-group will secure their places in the elimination round. The remaining four spots will be fiercely contested by the third-placed contenders from each sub-group."
"Upon the selection of the 32 participants for the elimination round, the point system will cease to exist. In each following round, a participant from Group A will challenge one from Group B, whittling the numbers down until only a single participant remains in each group. The climax of the tournament will see the last standing participant of Group A square off against the final warrior of Group B in an electrifying final battle."
Incognito amongst the throng of excited spectators, the enigmatic goddess of lust, Sasha, stood vigil. She didn't hastily ascend back to the surface after her heated encounter with Aditya. Instead, she chose to remain concealed within the shadows, her eyes sharply scanning the unfolding events. Deep down, she knew that Aditya would likely fulfill the daunting task of eliminating the contractor within the stipulated seven days. However, should he falter, she was ready to swoop in, carry out her original mission, and promptly make her exit.
The announcer's voice echoed once more through the vast arena, "Without any further delay, let the games commence!" Almost instantaneously, the massive entrance gate creaked open, revealing the first cluster of competitors from Group A, each brimming with anticipation and determination.
And so, The Oceanic Crown Tournament was officially underway. The initial phase of the tournament, however, did little to capture Aditya's interest. Blending into the animated crowd, he couldn't help but notice the fervent atmosphere surrounding him. The air was ripe with excitement and suspense, the onlookers enthusiastically placing their wagers and cheering for their preferred contenders. He found this spectacle rather mundane and monotonous compared to the thrilling chaos he was accustomed to. As the competition heated up, he continued his vigil, keenly observing each match unfold, the cheers and excitement of the crowd providing a stirring backdrop to the duels in the arena.
A curious mix of participants were part of this grand tournament. There were beginner 4th-order cultivators, mid 4th-order cultivators, and even peak 4th-order cultivators who had boldly chosen to compete. Aditya found himself somewhat bemused at this spectacle. Why would these 4th-order cultivators dare to compete when they were likely to be outclassed by the mid-5th-order cultivators? It seemed like a futile endeavor in his eyes.
Yet, upon further contemplation, he began to see a glimmer of understanding. Some participants were possibly not enticed by the prospect of victory alone, but rather by the invaluable experience such a prestigious competition could offer. After all, this tournament was a rare gathering of the Deep Sea Palace's most accomplished and talented cultivators. For the youthful and ambitious, the opportunity to cross swords with these prodigies, to learn from their techniques and strategies, was a rich experience in itself.
As expected, the sub-groups boasting 5th-order cultivators were utterly dominant. These powerhouses dispatched their 4th-order rivals with an ease that was almost disheartening to watch. The gulf in their cultivation levels was evident, and the 4th-order competitors stood little chance against these formidable opponents.
However, the tournament wasn't without its share of surprises and thrilling upsets. In a few notable instances, mid-4th order cultivators triumphed over their peak 4th-order counterparts, to the shock and delight of the crowd. These unexpected victories added a dash of unpredictability and excitement to the proceedings, keeping the spectators, and Aditya, thoroughly engaged.
In the expansive underwater arena, a palpable sense of tension brewed between different sea races. The air was thick with more than just anticipation for the next fight—it was laden with underlying racial prejudice and discrimination that only intensified as the tournament progressed.
Among the participants was a Sea Elf, with ethereal beauty and graceful agility that was characteristic of his kind. Despite his charm, his performance in the tournament had been less than stellar. He had just lost his third consecutive match, earning him the jeers and mocking laughter from a group of boisterous Merfolk in the crowd.
"Oh, look at that! Three losses in a row!" A stocky merman with a malicious grin yelled out, his voice carrying clear across the underwater stadium. His scales shimmered in an array of blues as he laughed boisterously, slapping his tail on the ground.
"And they call themselves the noble ones! More like 'no-battle' ones!" another mermaid chimed in, her eyes gleaming with ill-disguised schadenfreude. The rest of the Merfolk guffawed, causing a ripple of turbulence in the water.
Nearby, a group of Selkies, their sleek and shimmering fur catching the light, looked on with evident distaste. They were clearly not impressed by the Merfolk's conduct, but their gaze hardened when they saw a group of Nereids openly sneering at them.
"They may laugh now, but the Selkies will have their moment soon," a young Nereid with flowing green hair taunted. "Can't even swim as fast as a simple fish."
In another corner, a formidable Kraken participant, his tentacle-like limbs coiling and uncoiling with an air of restless power, faced open discrimination from a group of Nereids. "Look at him, more octopus than man. Can't trust a creature that straddles two worlds," one of them commented snidely, triggering a wave of laughter from her companions.
This scene was a microcosm of the deep-seated racial bias that was rife among the different sea races. Even in an event that was supposed to bring them together, old resentments and prejudices were hard to overcome. This was the darker side of the Deep Sea Palace Empire.
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