Invincible Beyond Heavens: Cultivating With A Broken EXP System

Li Yun gripped his sword tight as he executed the first move of the Blazing Sky Sword Art, Blazing Horizon Slash.

A deep crimson arc burst forth from his blade, tearing through the air like a burning scar across the heavens, and clashed directly with Chen Xiao’s spear.

The two forces collided.

Boom!

For an instant, the world drowned in blinding red and searing blue. Flames and qi crashed together, devouring everything around them. The ground caved in, shockwaves ripping through the square, hurling rubble like arrows.

Li Yun’s body shuddered violently. His sword arm trembled, blood seeping from his palm where the hilt bit into his flesh. Chen Xiao’s spear bore down like a collapsing mountain, forcing him back step by step, each one carving scorch marks into the stone beneath his heels.

Spectators gasped, never had they seen two mortal-rank techniques clash with such destructive might.

“Die, Li Yun!” Chen Xiao’s roar thundered through the flames. His qi-dragon pressed harder, scales biting into the fiery arc, inch by inch tearing it apart.

’Damn, the use of qi made him so much stronger than before?’ Li Yun could feel his arms trembled from the sheer force of this attack. ’If only my Blazing Sky Sword Art was mastered to perfection stage.’

He felt a bit of pity but he didn’t mind. Circulating his Crimson Flam Scripture wildly at the 9th layer, he used the second move of the Blazing Sky Sword Art – Scorching Ascent Pierce.

BOOM!

The impact exploded with a deafening roar, the ground beneath them cracking from the shockwave as both Li Yun and Chen Xiao were blasted backward, sliding across the stone tiles.

Dust spiraled into the air, and fragments of the ground shattered beneath their feet. Chen Xiao’s eyes narrowed, disbelief flashing across his face. He had infused his spear with qi, expecting to overwhelm Li Yun instantly, yet the bastard had held his ground.

“You dare match me while I use my qi?” he snarled, voice filled with venom.

But Li Yun only scoffed, flames licking the edge of his sword as he raised it again with unshaken calm. “I thought you were stronger than this, Chen Xiao. What a disappointment.”

His words stoked the fire in Chen Xiao’s heart. With a roar, the spear shot forward like a viper, again and again, each thrust sharper and faster than the last, backed by surging qi that cracked the air itself.

But Li Yun’s feet danced across the battlefield, every movement weaving into the rhythm of the Blazing Sky Sword Art. His blade moved in arcs of crimson light, deflecting each stab with precision, countering with bursts of flame that forced Chen Xiao to adjust his footing.

“Stop dodging and die!” Chen Xiao bellowed, stabbing again with a full-body lunge.

But Li Yun twisted, sidestepped, and brought his sword slashing down. “Blazing Horizon Slash!” he roared, his blade igniting mid-air before colliding with the oncoming spear.

The impact exploded with heat, sending a shockwave that flared outward, knocking both men back once more. Their clothes were torn in many places, sweat dripping from their brows, but neither gave in.

“You’re trembling,” Li Yun said mockingly, wiping blood from the corner of his lip as he rose again. “Is that fear, Chen Xiao?”

“You’re courting death!” Chen Xiao roared, qi erupting from his body like a wave. He shot forward in a blur, spinning his spear as azure light gathered along its tip. “Azure Dragon Thrust!”

But Li Yun was ready. He stepped forward to meet the blow instead of retreating. His sword blazed with a deep red hue, and with a flash of heat, he brought it down in a vertical arc.

“Burning Sky Sword Art – Burning Sky Split!”

The two techniques collided mid-air with a blinding explosion of flame and wind, the force ripping through the courtyard walls, reducing them to rubble. The ground beneath them crumbled, forming cracks that spidered out in all directions.

Both warriors landed roughly, panting, shoulders heaving, blades still raised.

“How can Li Yun be this strong? Even with Chen Xiao using qi, he’s still holding his ground!”

“Terrifying… facing him in battle would be a nightmare.”

“All his techniques must be at extremely high mastery. That’s why his combat power leaps far beyond his realm.”

“But… could he actually win? If Li Yun defeats Chen Xiao, then without question he’ll become the number one genius of Azure Wind City.”

The square erupted in noise. The crowd could barely contain their disbelief. Watching a sixteen-year-old at the 5th level of Body Tempering Realm fight Chen Xiao, who was burning his qi, on equal terms, it shattered their understanding of what was possible.

“With Chen Xiao burning his qi like that, his strength has reached the half-step Xiantian Realm,” Bai Xueqin said gravely, her voice steady but her eyes gleaming.

“True,” Guan Long agreed. “But he can’t sustain it. Without truly stepping into half-step Xiantian Realm, his qi will dry up fast. When that happens… Li Yun will win with ease.”

Those words made Zhao Lieyang’s face turn purple with rage. His chest heaved as if he would cough out blood on the spot. He had spent a fortune persuading Chen Xiao to fight on behalf of the Zhao Family, only to watch the battle tilt in Li Yun’s favor. The thought of losing was unbearable.

“Chen Xiao! What are you doing? Finish him! Defeat him already!” Zhao Lieyang roared, veins bulging in his neck.

Beside him, Chen Yishen’s face was ashen. Regret gnawed at him. Allowing Chen Xiao to fight for the Zhao Family had been a mistake, one that might come back to haunt him.

“Let’s continue this fight!” Li Yun smiled faintly, his Dark Light Sword gleaming as he pointed it at Chen Xiao. He could feel the Blazing Sky Sword Art refining itself in the heat of combat, his mastery rising with every exchange. If he pushed a little further, he knew he could reach perfection stage of mastery.

“You’re strong… but this ends now!” Chen Xiao’s voice was low and furious. He ignited every last trace of qi in his body, his aura surging to its peak. Deep down, he cursed his fate.

Months ago, Li Yun had been someone he could crush like an insect. Now, that same boy stood as his equal.

’No… not equal. If he keeps growing, he’ll surpass me completely.’

His eyes turned bloodshot with hate. ’I must kill him. Even if I can’t defeat him cleanly… I’ll kill him here and now!’ For him killing Li Yun was much easier than defeating him.

Their blades met again, this time, with greater fury. Chen Xiao burned all the remaining reasoning qi within his body, his aura swelling like a storm about to break.

The very air around him quivered with raw energy, and without hesitation, he launched himself at Li Yun once more, spear dancing in a blur of azure arcs. Li Yun didn’t back down. His sword ignited in a blaze of crimson light, the Blazing Sky Sword Art flowing through him with newfound clarity.

Sparks exploded as metal struck metal, and the force of their blows sent thunderous shockwaves rippling through the courtyard. Each time they clashed, something inside Li Yun shifted. His grip tightened, his footwork adjusted, his strikes became sharper, cleaner, instinctive.

He could feel the sword art deepening, each technique becoming more fluid, more complete. With every swing, his mastery soared.

The Blazing Horizon Slash no longer just burned, it roared, carving fiery crescents that lit up the battlefield. His Burning Sky Split cleaved through Chen Xiao’s spear strikes with blistering heat, the power behind each move rising as if the art itself was responding to his will.

Chen Xiao growled in frustration, sweat pouring down his face as he realized he was being pushed back. “You were never this strong before!” He spat, spinning his spear in a desperate attempt to hold off Li Yun’s rising momentum.

But Li Yun’s eyes gleamed like embers. “That’s because you’ve never pushed me this far.” Their weapons collided again, the courtyard lit by bursts of flame and qi, rubble flying in all directions.

But just as Li Yun prepared his final swing, his sword blazing with all the heat of a setting sun, Chen Xiao’s expression changed. A smirk curled at the corner of his mouth.

Before Li Yun could react, Chen Xiao’s hand slipped behind his back and hurled something, a small, black talisman etched in crimson runes. It flashed, then vanished. For a heartbeat, everything went silent.

Then—

Boom!

A vicious wave of dark qi exploded from behind, striking Li Yun squarely in the back. His eyes widened. Pain tore through his body as he was flung across the courtyard, his sword slipping from his hand mid-air. He crashed into the stone wall with a sickening thud, coughing blood as he slumped to the ground, vision blurring.

Chen Xiao stood panting, his spear lowered, that smug smile still on his lips. “Did you think I’d fight fair just because you were catching up?” he whispered coldly, walking toward the fallen Li Yun. “This is the real world, fool. And in the real world, only victory matters.”

“Bastard!” Li Zhen shot up from his seat, fury blazing in his eyes. He lunged forward, palm raised, intent on crushing Chen Xiao where he stood.

“Li Zhen, what are you doing?!” Zhao Lieyang barked, though his face split into a triumphant grin. He had seen it clearly, Chen Xiao had used a talisman to launch a sneak attack.

But so what? As long as Chen Xiao won, everything was justified. In fact, if Li Yun were killed, Zhao Lieyang would celebrate even more. There was no way he would allow Li Zhen to interfere now.

“Step back!” Chen Yishen’s cold voice thundered as he released the crushing pressure of a 2nd-level Xiantian Realm expert. The wave of aura forced Li Zhen, only at the 1st-level, to stumble back, his face twisted with rage.