Even though that’s the case.

Ding Ling had already mentally prepared for this, so it was still acceptable to him.

The opportunity to return to the world.

And the Martial Hero Plane World that only he could clear, were worth it.

This is a reward only the first place gets.

Even if the second place was just a second behind Ding Ling, they would still be far from this reward.

Ding Ling had experienced this once.

So the next step.

He did very smoothly.

Choosing items to take on ascension.

Ding Ling chose to carry the Heaven-Swaying Sword, the Giant Que Sword, and the Drumming Golden Hammer.

For clothing, Ding Ling chose a set of Chinese robes, a white suit, and an upper-class Celestial Silkworm Treasure Armor.

You could only choose from the items you already possessed. And after sweeping through the Qingcheng Sect and the Mount Song Sect, he had luckily acquired an upper-class Celestial Silkworm Armor.

Although called armor, it was actually very thin and worn inside.

It could be used for protection.

It was somewhat effective against general toxins, blades, and guns.

For his mount, naturally, he chose his own: two Ferghana Horses. As for the extra choice?

Ding Ling ignored it.

Without three Ferghana Horses, two were enough.

Three hundred taels of gold had already been packed into his storage pouch.

The selection just finished.

The two Ferghana Horses were once again swept up into this high sky.

They had experienced this once before, though a bit unsettled, they were much better than the first time, and upon seeing Ding Ling, they affectionately approached him as always.

Ding Ling patted their heads.

They obediently stood to the side.

Ding Ling glanced at the storage pouch.

What surprised him was.

The storage pouch that originally contained many things.

But now there were only three sets of clothes and three hundred taels of gold left.

"The second-class and third-class Cultivation Secret Manuals that were originally in the storage pouch are gone."

"Alas. It seems that this cheating method indeed isn’t viable."

"However, it seems the storage pouch can be taken along; that’s a big piece of good news."

Ding Ling discovered a ’highlight.’

"It seems that items purchased from the Gate of Glory can ignore the rules and directly ascend to other worlds!"

"If this is true, in the future, I can buy necessities with Achievement Medals!"

Ding Ling always keeps a significant portion of Achievement Medals to exchange for strength in the real world.

With the excess, he buys suitable items.

"Let’s continue onward then."

Ding Ling didn’t think any further.

He looked at the panel.

Sure enough, another message prompt appeared.

[Second Layer Martial Hero Plane: Romantic Swordsman, Dragon Gate Flying Armor, World of Divine Condor. Please choose one of the three.]

World of Divine Condor!

Ding Ling pondered for a moment and chose the World of Divine Condor.

The reason was simple.

The World of Divine Condor and The Smiling, Proud Wanderer are of the same lineage.

Ding Ling hadn’t learned the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, Nine Yang Divine Skill, Nine Yin Scripture, or Dragon Elephant Wisdom Skill yet.

Moreover, he hadn’t excavated treasures from the Celestial Mountain Piaomiao Peak Lingjiu Palace ruins.

He chose this world naturally for these martial arts.

[Selection complete. The choice cannot be changed.]

[Would you like to spend 10 Achievement Medals and 1 Glory Medal to open the Gate of Glory?]

[Note 1: Once the Gate of Glory is opened, it cannot be reversed.]

The familiar routine.

The consistent reminder.

But surprisingly, the second layer of the Gate of Glory consumes the same amount of Achievement Medals and Glory Medals as the first layer.

Ding Ling pondered for a moment, then chose ’Yes’!

At the instant of making the choice.

Whoosh!

An explosion of eleven dazzling beams of light burst from Ding Ling’s body.

Exactly like what happened in the Three Kingdoms World.

Ten silver light medals formed a strange array imprint around a gold light medal, and with a thunderous sound, it branded onto the Gate of Glory.

Crack!

The Gate of Glory opened.

Ding Ling was slightly startled, this routine, these ’special effects,’ haven’t changed at all?

He stepped forward and pushed the great door open, taking a look.

What appeared before him were three boundless, profound, vast Heaven-Reaching Daos.

In the sky above the Daos, large golden characters hung in suspension.

From left to right, the golden characters clearly read: Romantic Swordsman, Dragon Gate Flying Armor, World of Divine Condor.

Ding Ling was engulfed in golden light, swept to the front of the World of Divine Condor Dao.

Accompanying him were the two Ferghana Horses.

"This process is really identical, only a bit more grandiose."

[Player is about to enter the World of Divine Condor Plane World.]

[Before entering, would you like to exchange for storage space or bone treasure?]

The prompt sounded again.

Ding Ling chose ’Yes.’

Whoosh!

In just an instant, beside the Heaven-Reaching Dao, unexpectedly appeared rows upon rows of endless Seven-Colored Glazed Chaos Counters.

Ding Ling had experienced this scene before.

He walked forward to take a familiar look.

As expected.

Not much different from the first time.

The majority of the treasures were still sealed with restrictions.

Ding Ling didn’t look at the other counters.

He went straight to the first counter.

’True First-Order Pill: 5 Glory Medals’

’True Second-Order Pill: 10 Glory Medals’

...

Even the treasures were exactly the same.

Without any changes.

Ding Ling felt slightly disappointed.

He glanced at his ’balance.’

[Achievement Medals: Common 48, E-level 7]

[Glory Medals: 4]

Not even enough to buy the most basic First-Order Pill.

He already had a storage pouch.

This time, Ding Ling didn’t buy anything.

He decided to save for now, and later use it for the second counter’s items or for stronger second-grade pills.

However, from this scenario, Ding Ling confirmed one thing.

"The treasures here are indeed limited. Once exchanged by someone, they cannot regenerate!"

Seeing the empty slot where he exchanged a ’First-Order Pill’ in the Three Kingdoms World, it remained empty, without regenerating.

It proves these treasures are truly non-renewable resources.

Truly first-come, first-served!

"Whoever can afford it first, buys it first, gains the profit."

Ding Ling breathed deeply, thinking:

"Looks like in the next world, I should conserve more Achievement Medals."

The Achievement Medals Ding Ling gained were actually quite a lot.

But exchanging strength to return to the real world consumes many.

Currently, having this many Achievement Medals left is already the result of Ding Ling’s efforts in farming medals.

"Let’s leave it at that then."

Ding Ling turned and stepped onto the Heaven-Reaching Dao leading to the World of Divine Condor.

[Player is about to enter the World of Divine Condor Plane. Please prepare.]

[Countdown.]

[3]

[2]

[1]

Boom!

Golden light surges mightily like a brocade piercing through the void, sweeping Ding Ling directly to the end of the Dao, then with a thundering sound, broke through a Plane Barrier, transmitting Ding Ling inside.

...

...

The Smiling, Proud Wanderer World.

Outside Chang’an City.

At the pavilion.

Many people came upon hearing the commotion.

Seeing a Heavenly Ladder materialize out of thin air, they were astonished and shaken.

Qu Feiyan’s expression was somewhat dazed, gazing slightly upward at the Heavenly Ladder, her Heart Lake surging to its peak, she murmured softly:

"Brother Ding..."

She didn’t hear the familiar, comforting response.

Qu Feiyan thought of this farewell, unsure of when they might meet again, tears welled up in her eyes involuntarily.

Ren Yingying wasn’t much better off than Qu Feiyan.

She just held back more, but carried more regret within her heart:

"If I had been more proactive, would there have been a better outcome?"

"A hero of an era departs through the barrier."

Xiaang Wentian sighed deeply: "Perhaps when we meet again, Hero Ding will have indeed become a Human Martial God. Or maybe by then, we’ll already be old?"