Invincible Beyond Heavens: Cultivating With A Broken EXP System

With the people of Boundless Martial Palace finally gone, everyone present at Heaven Dew Peak let out long sighs of relief.

As long as that force had remained on the mountain, the atmosphere had been so tense that even casual speech felt dangerous.

Many younger disciples had not even realized how tightly they had been holding their breath until the flying boat disappeared into the distance.

Now that their boat had vanished beyond the horizon, the crushing pressure hanging over the summit gradually dispersed.

Though Heaven Dew Peak had been reduced to ruins, the storm itself had finally passed.

Broken pavilions lay scattered across the mountain. Cracked stone paths ran like scars through the summit. Entire sections of the arena had collapsed into jagged pits, while splintered wood and shattered tiles were strewn across the ground.

Yet compared to the catastrophe that had nearly erupted moments earlier, such destruction suddenly felt minor.

Standing beside Li Yun, Peak Lord Shen Ming of Heaven Mandate Peak stepped forward. His sleeves stirred lightly in the wind as he turned toward the crystal vessel of Ice God Valley.

Then he cupped his fist respectfully toward Elder Mu.

“Elder Mu, on behalf of the entire Martial Ascension Gate, I thank you for standing up for Li Yun today.”

His voice was steady, dignified, and entirely sincere.

“If Ice God Valley had not intervened when those four elders of Boundless Martial Palace surrounded him, the matter would likely have become far uglier than what we have already seen.”

Behind him, the two other Peak Lords also gave slight nods in acknowledgment.

Though sects competed openly and secretly, a favor remained a favor. Those who stood by during difficult moments were remembered. Those who lent a hand were remembered even more clearly.

Especially when standing up for a genius disciple like Li Yun. Most sects would love to see the genius disciples from their rival sects die and sometimes they would even participate in chaos to do the deed.

Because of this, Peak Lord Shen Ming was so much grateful for Elder Mu.

Elder Mu remained calm as cold wind drifted through her silver-blue robes. Frost qi curled faintly around her sleeves as she stood with straight posture and unreadable composure.

She first glanced toward Mu Lan, who stood quietly behind her, before turning back to Shen Ming.

“Peak Lord Shen Ming gives this old woman too much credit.”

Her tone was cool, yet not hostile.

“I did not intervene for the sake of Martial Ascension Gate, nor did I step forward merely to oppose Boundless Martial Palace in the name of righteousness.”

Her gaze lowered toward Li Yun below.

“I moved because my disciple owed Li Yun a debt.”

At those words, many eyes immediately turned toward Mu Lan.

She remained composed, though a faint flush touched her face beneath the attention of so many gathered geniuses.

Elder Mu continued without pause.

“Mu Lan already told me what happened within the tomb. Without Li Yun’s actions, she might never have returned safely.”

Her voice became firmer.

“That debt deserved acknowledgment.”

“When I then saw elders using age, status, and numbers to suppress him publicly, I naturally could not pretend not to see it. Moreover this Tea Ceremony is for the younger generations, what right did the Boundless Martial Palace have to send four elders to surround a junior. Of course I had to intervene in a situation like this.”

Her words were plain and direct, yet everyone present understood their meaning.

Ice God Valley had not acted casually. They had acted because Li Yun had earned that support through deed rather than request.

At the center of the ruined summit, Li Yun listened quietly.

Then he slowly stepped forward.

Fragments of broken stone crunched beneath his feet as he crossed the damaged ground and faced the direction of the Ice God Valley flying boat.

Before countless disciples, elders, and geniuses, he cupped both fists respectfully and bowed toward Elder Mu.

“Junior Li Yun thanks Elder Mu for standing up for me today.”

His tone was calm, serious, and free of the arrogance he had shown toward his enemies.

“If not for your intervention, the matter would indeed have become troublesome.”

The surrounding disciples were stunned once again.

Only moments ago, they had watched this same young man point his sword toward Yan Luo, mock Boundless Martial Palace, clash against Huang Chen, and stand unbending before immense pressure.

Yet now he bowed properly before an elder with complete sincerity.

There was no pride in the gesture. No false humility. Only gratitude.

Even some of those who had disliked Li Yun earlier found their expressions changing.

Even though Li Yun felt like he could have handled the situation himself if the Ice God Valley hadn’t intervened, he stilled thanked her because that was the best thing to do here.

Elder Mu studied him for several breaths. Her clear eyes seemed to examine more than his posture alone.

Then, at last, a faint trace of approval appeared within them.

“You are bold, talented, and troublesome,” she said lightly. “But at least you still understand courtesy.”

A ripple of laughter spread through parts of the summit, easing the heavy mood that had dominated the mountain for so long.

Even Peak Lord Shen Ming smiled faintly at those words.

Li Yun only grinned and straightened naturally, showing none of the stiffness that often followed formal praise.

Behind Elder Mu, Mu Lan watched him quietly. Her expression remained calm, yet her eyes carried emotions difficult for others to read. There was gratitude there, perhaps curiosity, perhaps something more uncertain that even she had not yet sorted clearly.

Around them, the disciples of various sects gradually began speaking again. Voices rose in low discussion. Shock turned into excitement. Fear turned into storytelling. Everyone understood they had just witnessed something extraordinary.

The storm at Heaven Dew Peak had ended.

But every person present knew one truth with absolute clarity.

After today, the name Li Yun would spread far beyond this mountain.