Take a look at youtube.
Your "discovery" is not new by any means.
You can get up to 7 stones without progressing much in anything.
However, you will level up to about level 5. If you go for just 5, you can get to level 4 and start buying those tasty books =D
I know its not new
im just saying I did it 5 bloodstones and im level 3 with one guy level 1 with another I went wit this build
first guy thief basicly trick is kill your second guy with your thief and he gets no xp
shen I finished thief was just barely level 3 and fighter was still level 1
the trick on cutting out the xp is getting into the first town without getting any xp in the first place is how I shaved off a level
needs at least 8 dex
scoundrel
markman
pick lock
pick pocket
sneak
tactical retreat
walk in shadows
fast track
lone wolf
speed creeper
second guy
2 hander ninja basicly
needs 10 str
2 hander dmg
man at arms
scoundrel
crafting
sneak
and 1 leftover point go wherever I used it in marksman
Melee power attack
Walk in shadows
and I took dust devil
could also take witchcraft and grab oath of decruction better choice with what this guy does probly
lone wolf
Guerilla
probly grabing speed creeper or glass cannon at level 5
right now I am hitting for over 400 damage per swing with my level 1 gurelia stealth 14 action point melee swing using this sword... lol