Invincible Beyond Heavens: Cultivating With A Broken EXP System

“As expected of Qin Ling.” Huo Ming said quietly beside Li Yun, his tone filled with admiration.

Han Xue’s eyes shone as she added, “Senior Sister Qin is ranked 88th on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. She is undoubtedly the strongest expert attending this Tea Ceremony. With her here, no deadly battle will be allowed to happen.”

“That is only natural.” Han Li nodded. “Otherwise, this Tea Ceremony would have stopped being held long ago.”

“Ranked eighty-eighth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking…” Li Yun narrowed his eyes slightly as he recalled what he had just witnessed.

Qin Ling’s cultivation had already reached the fourth level of the Essence Qi Realm. That alone made him wonder just how terrifying the talents ranked within the top fifty, or even higher, must be.

As for Yang Tianyu, his strength was clearly formidable and by no means inferior to ordinary geniuses. Yet when he attacked with full force, Qin Ling casually blocked him without even revealing any secret art. That contrast alone spoke volumes.

Through the observation of his Nine Tribulations Divine Eye, Li Yun saw even more than others could.

Her forty percent Wind Intent was deep and difficult to measure. She had reached a level where softness could redirect hardness, guiding an enemy’s force away through the principles of wind itself.

On top of that, the cultivation art she practiced, a mid-grade Profound Rank method, had already been trained to the eighth layer.

Li Yun did not believe he was the only one capable of raising a mid-grade Profound Rank cultivation art to such heights. There were certainly others who had also reached profound mastery through talent and years of effort.

No matter how monstrous one’s comprehension might be, cultivation still required time. Insight alone could not replace every step of progress.

Qin Ling was already in her twenties and had several more years of cultivation than he did. For her to have refined a mid-grade Profound Rank cultivation art to the eighth layer was not strange at all. It was simply the natural result of talent supported by time.

After the first duel ended, more true disciples from various sects stepped forward one after another to spar upon the central stage.

The Tea Ceremony was not attended only by disciples of the Four Great Sects. Talents from sects all across the Southern Martial Domain had gathered here, making the event far grander than an ordinary exchange gathering.

Each of these true disciples was a prodigy in their own right. When they fought, the pressure they created was astonishing. Their movements were sharp, their foundations were deep, and the martial arts and secret techniques they displayed were powerful enough to command respect.

Watching battle after battle unfold before him, Li Yun felt his horizons steadily broaden.

Many methods he had never seen before were displayed openly on that stage. Strange movement arts, fierce fist techniques, profound sword skills, and mysterious secret arts appeared one after another, each carrying the unique heritage of its sect.

“Hu Ming, go down there and challenge Li Yun. I want to see the extent of his strength.” Xin Lu said calmly to the young man standing beside him.

Hu Ming licked his lips and smiled darkly. “Senior Brother Xin, do not worry. I will seriously injure him within ten moves. It is a pity that killing is forbidden during the Tea Ceremony.”

“Do not be careless.” Xin Lu replied indifferently. “If an opportunity to kill him appears, then kill him. I dislike unnecessary delays.”

He clearly did not regard Li Yun as worthy of concern. If Qin Ling had not been present to maintain order, he would have personally handled the matter already.

As for openly challenging Li Yun himself, Xin Lu believed the other party would likely refuse. After all, he was one of the young giants listed on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. Unless someone had lost all sense, they would not casually accept such a challenge.

“Senior Brother Xin, is that really appropriate?” Hu Ming asked, somewhat surprised.

Xin Lu’s expression did not change. “If you kill him, will Qin Ling truly kill you for it?”

Hu Ming paused for a moment, then sneered. “You are right.”

With that, he leapt from the pavilion and descended toward the martial stage below.

He knew that even if he killed Li Yun here, the worst outcome would likely be a light punishment from Qin Ling. At most, he would be expelled from the Tea Ceremony. Such consequences did not concern him in the slightest.

Landing heavily upon the stage, Hu Ming lifted the nine-ring broadsword in his hand. The metal rings clashed together with a harsh sound as he pointed the blade forward.

“Li Yun, I, Hu Ming, wish to test your skill. Why do you not come down at once?” he called out coldly.

“Li Yun, be careful,” Han Li said at once, his tone serious. “This Hu Ming is from Boundless Martial Palace. Since they already issued a warrant for you, he is unlikely to have any good intentions.”

Although Hu Ming was not one of the famed young giants on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, he had still reached the first level of the Essence Qi Realm. That alone was enough to prove he possessed the qualifications to attend this Tea Ceremony.

A true disciple at the Essence Qi Realm was an existence no one could underestimate. Such people possessed not only cultivation, but also years of accumulated foundation, battle experience, and access to the resources of major sects.

They were different from Li Yun, Han Li, and others who had only become true disciples a few months ago and had not yet enjoyed enough time to fully build their foundations.

In Han Li’s judgment, Hu Ming was at least on the same level as Mu Lan, perhaps even more dangerous.

Although Li Yun had advanced by two small levels since then and his strength had greatly increased, Han Li still felt that underestimating such an opponent would be a serious mistake.