Invincible Beyond Heavens: Cultivating With A Broken EXP System

Not long after Li Yun finished speaking with Peak Lord Shen Ming, a deep horn-like sound suddenly echoed throughout the entire Boulder Inn district.

The sound was heavy, ancient, and majestic. It rolled through the air like a tide of pressure, shaking windows, rattling courtyard gates, and causing tiled roofs throughout the area to tremble slightly beneath its force.

Li Yun’s expression sharpened immediately, and he turned his gaze toward the sky without hesitation.

Above the inn, an enormous flying vessel had appeared.

Its massive shadow stretched across the ground below, covering a large section of the district and dimming the sunlight beneath it. Many people instinctively looked upward, their expressions changing the moment they saw what hovered overhead.

The vessel was so large that it resembled a floating fortress rather than an ordinary flying boat.

Its body had been forged from dark spiritual wood that carried a metallic sheen, while countless reinforced lines of silver metal ran across the hull like living veins. Those lines pulsed with formation light, revealing that powerful arrays had been engraved throughout the structure.

Dozens of towering sails rose high above the deck, and each one carried the emblem of the Martial Ascension Gate. As the sails moved with the wind, the insignia of the sect seemed to dominate the sky itself.

Across the outer hull, defensive formations shimmered layer after layer like invisible shields. Along both sides of the vessel rested rows of spirit cannons, massive and silent, like slumbering beasts waiting to awaken.

The pressure radiating from the vessel alone was enough to awe ordinary cultivators and silence the crowd below.

Throughout Sword Saint County, people raised their heads in shock.

Some commoners froze where they stood, unable to look away. Some martial artists narrowed their eyes and revealed expressions of respect. Children pointed excitedly toward the sky, while older cultivators silently recognized the power and status represented by such a vessel.

Then a powerful voice rang out from the deck above.

It had clearly been amplified through qi and formations, allowing it to spread through the entire district with overwhelming clarity.

“All disciples of the Martial Ascension Gate board immediately!”

The announcement rolled through the air like thunder.

The moment those words were heard, the entire Boulder Inn became active.

Disciples moved at once.

Figures shot upward from courtyards, balconies, hallways, cultivation rooms, and rooftops one after another. Robes fluttered violently in the wind as streams of qi rose toward the vessel overhead.

Some disciples looked excited and eager for the coming tournament. Others wore solemn expressions and remained silent. Everyone present understood that this was no ordinary journey.

The Hidden Dragon Tournament was one of the grand stages of the younger generation, and only true talents had the right to stand there.

Li Yun naturally did not delay.

He stepped forward lightly, and blue lightning instantly gathered beneath his feet. Sharp crackling sounds spread through the air as energy condensed around him.

In the next moment, his figure blurred and shot upward like a bolt of thunder.

He crossed the distance in a breath and landed smoothly upon the deck.

The deck was already crowded with disciples and elders.

Inner disciples stood together in groups, speaking quietly among themselves. True disciples carried calm and proud expressions, while attendants moved quickly to maintain order and direct everyone to their assigned places.

Some disciples looked around with excitement.

Others remained silent with closed eyes, already adjusting their state of mind.

Near the front of the vessel stood Peak Lord Shen Ming and the other Peak Lords. Their hands were behind their backs as they calmly oversaw the boarding process.

Their mere presence was enough to stabilize the atmosphere on the ship.

Once all disciples had entered, the formations beneath the flying boat suddenly lit up.

Lines of light spread across the deck and hull like rivers of fire. A deep humming sound echoed through the vessel as vast spiritual power poured into the great arrays.

The air around the ship trembled.

At first, the vessel rose slowly into the sky.

Then, with a burst of terrifying force, it surged forward and pierced through the clouds.

The air exploded behind it, leaving a trail of violent wind currents in its wake.

Within moments, Sword Saint County had already been left far behind as the vessel sped toward Hidden Dragon Island.

Li Yun had no intention of wasting the journey.

After being assigned a private chamber within the vessel, he immediately entered seclusion.

The sect had already granted him the ultimate martial arts of the other three peaks, yet he had not even started learning them. With precious travel time available and his comprehension already at a terrifying level, there was no reason for him to remain idle.

Inside the chamber, Li Yun sat cross-legged and calmed his breathing.

His mind gradually became clear and focused until outside distractions no longer existed.

Heaven Breaking Overlord Fist of the Human Origin Peak.

Sky Star Seal of the Profound Mystery Peak.

Flame Destroyer Canon of the Earth Pillar Peak.

One scroll after another was placed before him.

He opened them carefully and studied every line, every circulation route, and every principle hidden within the techniques.

Nothing escaped his attention.

His sixth-tier comprehension once again displayed its monstrous value.

Complex passages that would trap ordinary geniuses for months became clear after brief contemplation. Hidden meanings buried beneath simple words gradually revealed themselves under his analysis.

Hours passed unnoticed.

Then a full day went by.

Then another.

Then a third.

For three entire days, Li Yun remained immersed in cultivation and comprehension, forgetting everything beyond the chamber walls.

Then it happened.

The entire flying boat suddenly trembled violently.

The walls shook hard enough to release dust from the ceiling. The floor beneath him vibrated sharply, while nearby objects rattled from the force.

Voices of surprise rang out from outside.

Li Yun’s eyes snapped open instantly.

His aura retracted into his body in a single breath, and he rose to his feet without hesitation.

He stepped out of the chamber and headed toward the deck.

By the time he arrived, many disciples had already gathered there.

No one spoke.

Everyone stared forward in stunned silence.

Li Yun followed their gaze.

Even he was shocked.

Before them floated Hidden Dragon Island.

Yet calling it an island hardly seemed accurate.

It was colossal.

The landmass hung suspended amidst clouds and violent storm currents, vast enough to resemble a floating continent rather than a simple island.

Around it stood nine gigantic dragon statues arranged from all directions.

Each statue towered like a mountain.

Some dragons coiled upward as though ascending to the heavens. Some opened their jaws toward the sky in silent roars. Others lowered their heads as if guarding the sacred land at the center.

Every statue radiated ancient pressure that made them feel less like carved stone and more like remnants of a forgotten age.

At the very center of the island stood a massive arena.

Its scale was astonishing.

Even from this distance, Li Yun could see layered battle platforms, towering spectator walls, colossal pillars, and powerful formations surrounding the central combat grounds.

The arena alone was larger than many city districts.

Yet the reason the flying boat trembled was not the island itself.

It was the wind surrounding it.

All around Hidden Dragon Island, an unnatural storm rotated endlessly.

Violent currents screamed through the sky like enraged dragons. Clouds were torn apart and scattered in all directions. The air twisted into spirals, while even space itself seemed unstable beneath the pressure of the gale.

The giant flying boat, despite its immense size and protective formations, continued to shake as it forced its way through the outer layers of the storm.

Only now did Li Yun fully understand the difficulty of reaching this place.

Any ordinary cultivator who attempted to fly here alone would likely be torn apart long before arrival.

Only a vessel of this level, protected by the formations of a great sect, could cross safely.

Li Yun narrowed his eyes as the roaring wind battered the ship again and again.

“So this is Hidden Dragon Island.”