Invincible Beyond Heavens: Cultivating With A Broken EXP System

Li Family, Patriarch Hall.

The atmosphere inside was heavy. Patriarch Li Jinyun sat at the head of the hall, flanked by all the elders of the Li Family. Every face carried a solemn expression.

Even Li Potian, who never missed an opportunity to stir up trouble for Li Yun, was uncharacteristically silent.

They were deep in discussion. The matter at hand was grave: deciding who would represent the Li Family in the upcoming battle against the Zhao Family. Voices clashed; some elders argued heatedly while others gave hesitant suggestions.

Patriarch Li Jinyun himself looked troubled. Half a year ago, he had made the wager with Zhao Family, unwilling to surrender the Stone Wood Mine. But now that the appointed day had arrived, the Li Family lacked a worthy genius to uphold their honor. For a fleeting moment, Li Jinyun even considered hiring outside talent from other families in Azure Wind City.

Just then, Li Shan stepped inside.

“Patriarch, Li Yun has returned,” Li Shan announced respectfully.

Behind him, Li Yun walked calmly into the Patriarch Hall.

“Li Yun greets the Patriarch and the honored elders,” he said, bowing deeply.

At once, every gaze in the hall snapped toward him, and then froze in shock.

They instantly sensed his cultivation. Fifth level of Body Tempering Realm!

Two months ago, when he had left the Li Family, Li Yun had only just stepped into the first level of Body Tempering Realm. Now, after barely sixty days, he stood at the fifth level. Such progress was unheard of, monstrous even.

“Li Yun… your cultivation?” Li Jinyun finally asked, his voice betraying a trace of disbelief.

Li Yun, seeing their astonished faces, smiled faintly and explained what had happened.

When he finished, the hall erupted again.

“You… you defeated a genius of Purple Cloud Academy? Someone at the sixth level of Body Tempering Realm?” one elder muttered in shock.

“Impossible…” another elder whispered, yet Li Yun’s calm expression told them it was the truth.

Li Yun nodded lightly. “I defeated him back when I was only at the second level of Body Tempering Realm. Now that my cultivation has soared to the fifth level, I have the confidence to stand against even those at the ninth level of Body Tempering Realm.”

Then, his tone grew resolute.

“Patriarch, elders, this bet with the Zhao Family happened because of me. Therefore, it should be me who carries the burden of defending our family’s honor. I ask for permission to represent the Li Family in this battle. I believe my strength is enough to face all the so-called geniuses of Azure Wind City.”

At that moment, all the elders turned their gazes toward the Patriarch. None of them spoke, but the same thought weighed heavily in their hearts, Li Yun might truly be the Li Family’s only hope of keeping the Stone Wood Mine in their hands.

After a long silence, Patriarch Li Jinyun leaned forward, his expression grave. He looked at Li Yun deeply before asking, “Tell me honestly, how confident are you if you were to face a genius at the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm?”

Li Yun’s eyes flickered, but his tone remained steady as he replied, “Ninety percent. I am ninety percent confident I can defeat any genius at the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm.”

In truth, Li Yun felt he was nearly invincible within the Body Tempering Realm, but declaring so outright would have sounded far too arrogant before the Patriarch and the gathered elders.

“Ninety percent…” Patriarch Li Jinyun repeated softly, mulling over the words. His eyes flashed with a decision, and finally, he gave a heavy nod. “Very well. Since that is the case, it’s settled. One week from now, you, Li Yun, will represent our Li Family in the bet against the Zhao Family.”

“Thank you, Patriarch, for entrusting me with this chance.” Li Yun bowed respectfully, but his eyes blazed with determination, a silent vow burning within them.

***

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

The long-awaited day of the wager between the Li Family and the Zhao Family had finally arrived.

That morning, the grand square of the City Lord’s Mansion was already crowded. Figures flickered across the training grounds, not the guards of the City Lord’s Mansion this time, but the well-known faces of Azure Wind City’s influential figures.

“The Zhao Family’s Patriarch, Zhao Lieyang, has already arrived. Where are the people from the Li Family?”

“Today’s battle will decide everything. Both sides are gambling their family’s most important mines. The Zhao Family’s mine is said to be even more valuable than the Li Family’s Stone Wood Mine.”

“Yes… whichever side loses, it will shake the balance of power in Azure Wind City. If the Li Family loses, they might not even remain one of the three great families. And if the Zhao Family loses, they’ll definitely be surpassed by the Li Family before long.”

The crowd murmured in excitement. The wager between the Zhao Family and the Li Family had drawn far too much attention to be ignored.

Though the bet was between two families, the ripples would affect countless others. Many minor forces were either allied with or dependent on one of the two great families, so the outcome of this battle would directly impact their futures.

Thus, nearly every important figure in the city had come to witness the event for themselves.

“Look! The Li Family is here!” someone shouted.

Heads turned at once, gazes converging on the group approaching the square.

Patriarch Li Jinyun led the way, followed by Third Elder Li Zhen, and the Fifth and Sixth Elders. Behind them, guided by a steward from the City Lord’s Mansion, was none other than Li Yun.

“Hm?”

“That’s strange… who are they planning to send for the battle?”

The crowd immediately noticed there was no unfamiliar or special figure among them. They recognized the Li Family’s elders easily enough. But aside from them, the only other person was a single young cultivator, Li Yun.

“They wouldn’t actually send Li Yun, would they?”

“Impossible. The stakes are too high. Unless the Li Family has gone mad, there’s no way they’d rely on a youth to decide the fate of their mine.”

“Although Li Yun’s strength is decent, this is a joke if they send him. It would mean the Li Family is handing the mine over willingly.”

The crowd buzzed with disbelief.

“I wonder who the Zhao Family is sending?” someone muttered, trying to shift the focus.

“I’ve got connections with one of the Zhao Family elders,” a round-faced cultivator said proudly, lowering his voice as if sharing a great secret. “He told me that the Zhao Family is certain to win this time.”

“Certain? Then who’s their representative?” another pressed.

“That elder didn’t give a name… but he said the one chosen is extremely powerful. Strong enough that the Zhao Family is confident of victory.”

At those words, silence rippled across the crowd before giving way again to hushed whispers and speculation.

No one knew for sure who either family would send, but one thing was certain, the entire square was brimming with anticipation.

“Li Jinyun, I thought you wouldn’t even dare to show your face today!”

Zhao Lieyang’s booming laughter echoed across the square as his sharp gaze locked onto the approaching Li Family.

Li Jinyun, walking at the front with steady steps, didn’t flinch. His voice was calm, but it carried a firm edge. “Not dare? What a joke. Tell me, when has my Li Family ever cowered before anyone?”

“Hahaha, good, very good!” Zhao Lieyang’s grin widened, though there was nothing friendly in it. “Since you’ve shown up, let’s not waste words. Li Jinyun, who is your family sending into the battle? Don’t tell me the Li Family hasn’t even managed to find a proper candidate?”

His eyes slid across the Li Family group, pausing on Li Yun with a sinister gleam. Yet, just like the rest of the crowd, Zhao Lieyang dismissed him almost instantly. In his mind, Li Yun was nothing more than a talented junior, someone who had beaten Li Xian of the Sword Hall at the 4th level of Body Tempering Realm. But such strength was utterly meaningless for today’s gamble.

“My Li Family already has someone suitable. You needn’t concern yourself,” Li Jinyun shot back, his tone sharp. Then, narrowing his eyes, he added, “What about you, Zhao Lieyang? Which so-called genius is the Zhao Family sending out today?”

Li Jinyun’s gaze swept across the Zhao Family’s ranks, searching for the answer. Yet he found no unfamiliar faces, no obvious chosen genius. Could it be… that the Zhao Family, like his own, had simply chosen one of their direct descendants to gamble on?

Zhao Lieyang sneered. “No need to be so curious. You’ll see soon enough. Li Jinyun, prepare yourself. After today, that Stone Wood Mine of yours will belong to my Zhao Family!”

“If your Zhao Family has the strength, then take it.” Li Jinyun’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. “But I doubt very much that you do.”

“We’ll see,” Zhao Lieyang growled coldly, though his expression brimmed with confidence.

His demeanor made Li Jinyun’s heart sink slightly. That kind of confidence… it wasn’t hollow. It was the confidence of a man who believed he had already won. Just who had the Zhao Family prepared?

Almost unconsciously, Li Jinyun glanced back at Li Yun. In his heart, he knew, the Li Family’s fate today rested entirely on this youth.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the crowd.

“Chen Yishen, the head of the Chen Family, has arrived!”

The announcement sent ripples of shock through the entire square.