In a system without character levels or skill levels, the proposed method of handling character development:
1. Experience is allotted to learning techniques.
2. A gained technique grants attribute development points. When an attribute has accumulated a certain amount of points, it will increase.
For example, Ar Jin Jee Ee allocates her experience points to learning the Internal Arts technique, "Standing in the Void"; a technique that improves her composure and increases her awareness. Practice of the skill is meditative and requires her to empty her mind, which has granted Ar Jin 2 development points to both her Insight and Awareness attributes.
A Note on Developing Attributes
The development points required to reach any given attribute score are not fixed. The requirements are derived from your base attribute scores (the attributes you had during character creation before you chose your skills). For example, if Ar Jin Jee Ee wants to improve her Strength score from 5 to 6, she may need 10 development points whereas Lo Din may only need 3. This happened because Ar Jin has a base Strength of 3 and Lo Din has a base Strength of 5.
An attribute will cap out at 3 points above your base, with the maximum base at 7, which makes the natural human maximum of 10. Your base attributes represent your natural levels without consideration for training of any kind.
In some cases, it is possible for a character to temporarily or permanently increase an attribute beyond the natural human threshold. Drugs, implants, gear, software, etc. are some ways to do this. For example, Meh Kada has 12 Strength because his natural levels are not only high and also developed, but because he's abused steroids. Pratnavahatdu has 11 Insight because he's attained enlightenment. Hieronymous has 12 Logic because his Neural Network attachment links him to an intelligence algorithm.