Tomb robbing: I was Buried alive in the Mausoleum of the First Emperor, I Get Stronger by Looting Corpses - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: The Great Qin of Strange Tales? A Serpent Spirit’s Gratitude!

As Qing Lian stepped into the corridor behind Meng Jiangnv, she was greeted by a gruesome sight—bodies littered across the floor, blood pooling in the dim light. The pungent scent of death filled the air. Her face turned pale, and without thinking, she clutched onto Meng Jiangnv’s sleeve for support.

Meng Jiangnv gently patted her hand, speaking in a soft but resolute voice. “Husband is doing a great kindness.” Her gaze swept across the corridor. “These people were doomed to die. Had he not ended their suffering, they would have torn each other apart—driven mad by starvation, they would have feasted on one another.” She sighed. “At least this way, they are spared the agony of losing their humanity.”

Turning to look at Yang Yi, who was calmly searching the corpses, she continued. “And when we bury them, the air in this place will be cleaner. We won’t have to worry about disease spreading.” Qing Lian nodded, her expression filled with understanding. She had seen too much cruelty in the palace to hold onto naïve ideas about survival. She knew food could not be shared freely, not in a world like this. But even so, she shuddered at the sight of so much death.

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By the time the two women reached the end of the corridor, Yang Yi was already deep into his work. Qing Lian hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. “Master, let me help you.” She did not understand why he insisted on searching the bodies. If he can already summon food, water, and weapons, what can these wretched corpses possibly offer him?

Yet, Yang Yi seemed so dedicated to it. But before she could kneel and assist, Yang Yi waved a hand dismissively. “No need. Just find a place to sit.” With a flick of his wrist, a wooden bed materialized in the space nearby. “Rest for now.” Meng Jiangnv smiled knowingly, pulling Qing Lian toward the bed. “Listen to Husband. He must have his reasons.” She cast a glance at Yang Yi, observing the subtle smile tugging at his lips as he searched. She did not understand why he enjoyed this ritual, but she knew that each time he finished, he grew stronger. And that was enough for her.

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Ding! 

[Congratulations, Host! You have gained one year of cultivation time and ten years of life essence.]

Hearing the familiar mechanical chime, Yang Yi grinned. His collection was growing steadily. Another ten years of cultivation and a hundred more years of lifespan. Moving to the next corpse, his hands brushed against the cold, lifeless skin. Another surge of information entered his mind.

Ding! 

[Congratulations, Host! You have obtained a set of bamboo scrolls: The Analects of Confucius, The Book of Songs…]

Yang Yi paused, his eyebrows raising slightly. A scholar? The scrawny figure, now lifeless beneath his touch, had the look of a student, his body frail and malnourished—a stark contrast to the labourers and warriors he had encountered thus far.

A Confucian disciple, perhaps?

Yang Yi chuckled as he retrieved the bamboo scrolls. In a time like this, they were priceless artefacts, carrying the wisdom of the past. If he ever returned to modern civilization, these would be worth a fortune.

Then—

Ding! 

[Congratulations, Host! You have triggered a special event: A Serpent Spirit’s Gratitude!]

Yang Yi froze. A… Serpent Spirit?

His mind raced, processing the implications.

Does this mean supernatural creatures truly existed?

Is this world steeped in more mystery than I realize?

And then—

Ding!

This reward is unique. It cannot be claimed directly but will manifest at the appropriate time.” Yang Yi’s breath hitched. His fingers tightened slightly against the corpse’s tattered robes.

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A Serpent Spirit’s Gratitude?

His thoughts spiraled rapidly.

Could it be… a real-life version of the White Snake Legend?

Had this scholar, in his lifetime, saved a snake spirit?

Could this world truly contain demons, spirits, and celestial beings?

Is this some twisted version of the Great Qin mixed with supernatural folklore?

His mind raced further.

“Wait… In legend, Xu Xian saved Bai Suzhen when she was still a snake. Could this man have been a historical parallel?”

The thought sent shivers down his spine. No, the timeline didn’t match. If the legend was correct, Xu Xian’s story should have taken place hundreds of years before the Qin Dynasty, unless history had been recorded incorrectly. Or perhaps—the celestial beings of this world remained hidden, waiting for the right moment to reveal themselves.

He rubbed his temple, feeling a slight headache.

“Forget it. If there really are divine beings, then Qin Shi Huang wouldn’t have died searching for immortality.”

Unless…The gods have already abandoned this world. Or worse—the gods themselves are in hiding.

A chill ran down his spine.

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Shaking his head, he exhaled deeply. “For now, this is just a possibility.”

But if there really were spirits, demons, or immortals, he had to be prepared. His mind whirred with possibilities.

If supernatural beings existed, what else could be lurking in the depths of the tomb? Ghosts? Cursed souls? Reanimated corpses?

The thought made his muscles tense involuntarily. If a zombie emperor suddenly emerged from Qin Shi Huang’s tomb, that would be an entirely different level of horror.

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Turning toward Meng Jiangnv, he asked, “Dreamer, have you ever heard of cultivators? Immortal beings who transcend life and death?”

Meng Jiangnv tilted her head, thinking for a moment. “I don’t know if they truly exist.”

She hesitated before adding, “But the First Emperor did send Xu Fu to search for the elixir of life, didn’t he?” Yang Yi nodded, acknowledging the well-known historical fact.

“What about monsters? Have you ever seen a demon or spirit?” Meng Jiangnv shook her head. “No, but I have heard stories. Some elders claim that deep in the mountains, man-eating demons exist.” She hesitated. “But I always thought those were just tales meant to scare children.” Then—she frowned slightly. “Although… when I used to gather herbs, I would sometimes encounter animals that seemed unnaturally intelligent.”

Yang Yi’s heart skipped a beat. If animals could develop intelligence, it was only a small step toward sentience.

Could this be how ‘monsters’ and ‘spirits’ were born?

Is it possible that this world has hidden supernatural forces that have remained dormant for centuries? He took a deep breath. “If monsters are real, then maybe immortals exist as well.”

And if that is true, the secrets buried within Qin Shi Huang’s tomb might be even greater than I ever imagined.