1: Yes, if you delay the AI I think it will be much easier to kill them, and therefore gain more XP, a Legit way to farm Experience at your level is to do White Tyrant Spear Runs, in which you stun lock the tyrant so he can't do anything then just molest his face with your weapons.
2: Not that I know of, but I am fairly new to this so I may be mistaken.
Hope it helps