Chapter 6, The Hammer and Twin Swords, I want to go home

The host continued to introduce: "He is Tian Nan, a young man from our Ke Province, a commoner of our empire, just the boy next door."

They did not hold any weapons, dividing into two groups, cursing at each other, and then grappling and pulling at one another. During the course of the struggle, they tore each other's clothes apart, and in the end, both sides were left completely naked, falling together and entangled on the ground

Fang Ning silently encouraged herself, gradually accumulating strength within, determined to be brave and to win

Indeed, look at this fellow, he is thin and weak, but the large iron hammer in the opponent's hand weighs at least sixty pounds, which bodes ill for him

The host continued to passionately shout: "The strength of a country and a nation lies entirely in its youth, for they possess boundless potential. If the youth are wise, the nation is wise; if the youth are prosperous, the nation is prosperous; if the youth are strong, the nation is strong

It was Fang Ning's turn to take the stage, and he slowly advanced while holding his twin swords.

Mother, I will definitely win, I will survive, I must cure you

As his voice echoed, Fang Ning was pushed into the arena. He walked step by step towards the center of the arena, where the ground was already covered with a layer of yellow sand, yet in some places, the bloodstains could not be concealed. Fang Ning walked upon this mixture of blood and sand.

Fang Ning thought for a moment and said, "Use a pseudonym"

Rather than being a gladiatorial contest, this is more akin to a sensational performance aimed at attracting attention, akin to a meat-selling show on m.hetushucom.com. These women are specially trained, with the purpose of providing enjoyment to the audience and eliciting hearty laughter from them

At this moment, a bear-like youth approached, appearing no different from an ordinary human. His body was also thin and frail, and if he were walking on the streets of the empire, he would seem no different from an average boy

This match features a duel between two young warriors; it is not a performance by the main battle legions, but a genuine clash between the Empire and Gaul. Let us cheer together and welcome the Soul of the Iron Bear Tribe from Gaul, Montier.

The spectacle of the duel was breathtaking for Fang Ning, yet for the spectators outside, it was merely a tedious interlude.

Fang Ning and Meng Tie faced each other, separated by a distance of one zhang, locking eyes. Both were fifteen years old, their bodies quite slender. Today, they were to determine their fates here, with only one person allowed to emerge victorious and leave alive

"Tian Nan, a strange name, must be a pseudonym. However, the other party is the Soul Child of the Iron Bear Clan, so defeat is certain."

Soon it will be time for Fang Ning to make his appearance. At this moment, the host of the martial arts arena approaches and asks, "Young man, are you using your real name or a pseudonym?"

Fang Ning held dual swords, his eyes slightly closed, as the sensation of refining swords and controlling them from the innate seed resurfaced once again. He entrusted the battle to his own body and the body of the book.

With his introduction, a wave of murmurs arose from the audience, instantly captivating all the spectators as they turned their attention to Fang Ning in the center of the arena

Although this bear-like youth is physically frail, he wields an iron hammer, the head of which is roughly the size of a human head, crafted from solid iron and weighing at least 60 pounds, yet in his hands, it appears as light as a wooden stick, devoid of any weight

Fang Ning glanced over and immediately took a liking to a black mask among them. He picked up the mask and put it on his face, saying, "My alias shall be Tian Nan."

They are neatly equipped; on one side are the troops of the Tianluo Empire, including long spear soldiers, bronze hammer fighters, iron mace swordsmen, tiger and leopard cavalry, strong archers, sorcerers, spellcasters, and onmyoji, all present without exception. These individuals, whether gladiators or criminals, all have some connection to the Tianluo Empire

The host was still emotionally speaking about something, but Fang Ning could no longer hear what he was saying; all his attention was focused on the enemy before him

Countless spectators began to place their bets; as long as the amount was written on the corresponding betting slip, the slip would automatically fly away, gathering at the casino, thus completing the bet

Mother, I miss you, Mother, wait for me, I will come home

After the host finished speaking, he said: "Tian Nan? What a strange name. Alright, kid, it's your turn to go on stage. Remember to bring glory to our empire, win, and don't die."

The host said: "Well, since you don't want to use your real name, here are some masks. You can choose one. By the way, what pseudonym will you use?"

The host shouted loudly: "Now, the young hero of our empire, Tian Nan, is coming on stage..."

The farce has finally come to an end, the time is nearly up, and the audience has returned to their seats. On either side of the martial arts arena, two small battalions of two hundred men each have appeared.

The second round of the gladiatorial contest began, and with the host's loud shout, ten women came forward. They were all beautiful, wearing lace-trimmed tops that cinched at the waist. Their lower halves were adorned with long skirts. Their exquisite curves were subtly revealed, exuding a beauty that carried a hint of wildness.

"Why the hell? A good child, alas, it's a pity that good people do not receive good rewards"

It is not certain that he will lose; perhaps he can win. I see that Tian Nan wields dual swords, and his movements are as fluid as flowing water; he might indeed be able to win. Regardless, I will bet on him to win, simply because he is from the Empire and possesses the character of one who saves his mother

Amane, in Gaulish, means mother, as Montier silently prays

Upon seeing this sword, Meng Tie's expression changed instantly as he recognized that the sharpness of the sword was a result of the sword polishing technique. He seemed pleased and silently wielded the iron hammer in his hand, as if dancing with a windmill. The hammer felt weightless in his hand, cutting through the air with a whoosh.

On one side were the Gallic barbarian legions, composed either of prisoners of war or slaves, most of whom came from Gaul, the old adversary of the Heavenly Net Empire.

He slowly crouched down, adopting a lunge position, his waist bent at a forty-five-degree angle, resembling the stance of a hunting tiger. The two swords were separated, one held in each hand, one angled upward and resting against his chest, while the other was concealed behind his back, as if sheathed. The two swords crossed in an unusual combat posture, a complete automatic response of the body

When he spoke of the Sons of the Soul, the gladiators preparing to battle below, who were portraying the Gallic Legion, immediately exclaimed in surprise, and some of the audience on stage also shouted in astonishment

The audience who enjoys watching such fights continuously throws down coins as rewards. In the end, ten women compete, with five being completely subdued and taken captive. The victors immediately sell their spoils, while the defeated keep pleading for help. Whoever can pay to rescue them may spend a pleasant night with them

His mother is gravely ill. In order to treat her, he resolutely stepped onto the battlefield. This is our heroic youth—Tian Nan

The Sons of the Soul in the barbarian tribes of Gaul represent titles such as prince and young master. They hold a noble status, as they have the potential to become the most powerful soul warriors of Gaul. The Iron Bear clan is one of the elite tribes among the Gaulish bear people, wielding significant power. It is hard to believe that their Son of the Soul has been captured for gladiatorial combat.

Amani, I will survive, I can definitely survive, I will definitely go home! Amani, I miss you, Amani, wait for me, I will come home!

This is a benefit for the subjects of the empire participating in the gladiatorial games, as the arena can conceal their true identities

Gu Tian Nan bestowed his innate seed upon Fang Ning before his death. Fang Ning decided to use his name to bring him back to the world once more as a tribute.

Slowly, he drew out two swords, one an ordinary iron sword and the other a finely forged treasure sword, holding one in each hand, while he discarded the scabbard on the ground

He stood bare-chested, with a vivid tattoo of a giant bear on his back, lifelike and indistinguishable from reality. In fact, this was not merely a tattoo; it was the spirit of the bear he had personally slain, its essence gathered upon him, forming this design. Upon his appearance and the sight of this tattoo, three or four individuals within the Gallic Legion knelt down, all members of the bear clan, bowing their heads in reverence.

The main battle is about to begin, and the host steps up, shouting: "Great citizens of Tianluo, the final curtain battle before the main event, the Youth Blood Battle, is about to commence"

These twin swords, dull and gray as jade, do not appear sharp, resembling ordinary iron swords. However, under the art of sharpening, they transform into blades that gleam with brilliance, radiating an endless sharpness!

Indeed, no matter how great the strength, if one is unable to move, hitting the opponent is akin to hitting a target. I also believe that we, the people of Kexu, being close-knit and hailing from the same hometown, will surely achieve victory.