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

Chapter 8: Meng Jiangnv’s Soaring Loyalty

“You must be exhausted. Get some proper rest—I’ll stand guard for you,” Yang Yi said, glancing at Meng Jiangnv with a slight smile.

Meng Jiangnv did not refuse. By now, she and Yang Yi were practically relying on each other for survival. If she rested well now, she would be able to stay alert later when it was his turn to sleep. Without another word, she curled up beside him, adjusting her position to make herself as comfortable as possible on the cold, hard ground.

It didn’t take long before the sound of her steady breathing reached his ears, a sign that she had quickly fallen into deep sleep. Clearly, ever since they had been forced into the underground palace, she hadn’t had a proper rest. Yang Yi glanced at her sleeping form and couldn’t help but notice her figure. Her legs were long, her hips well-proportioned, and even with the bindings restricting her chest, she had an unmistakable elegance. If she were freed from those tight wraps, her beauty would undoubtedly be breathtaking.

Taking a deep breath, he shook his head and calmed his thoughts, forcing himself to focus.

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“System, extract all cultivation time.” Closing his eyes, he issued the command.

Ding! 

[Host has entered condensed cultivation time.].

[Although the host remains in the underground palace, the Ancient Breathing Technique does not require external energy. The host has sufficient food and water, allowing for uninterrupted training.].

[In the first year, the host’s consumption of meat increased blood vitality, aiding cultivation. However, as the host’s realm improved, progress became significantly harder.].

[Despite facing bottlenecks in the second year, the host’s perseverance allowed continued progress.].

[By the third year, the host successfully broke through to the peak of Ming Jin. However, even after another six months of training, achieving complete mastery remained just out of reach.].

As the system’s notifications faded, Yang Yi felt waves of warmth rushing through his body. His blood boiled, his energy surged, and then—everything settled into place. Slowly, he opened his eyes. “Ming Jin Peak Stage… just one step away from full mastery,” he muttered, feeling a slight sense of regret. Still, the power coursing through his veins was undeniable.

His physical strength had increased tremendously, and he was confident that with one punch, he could easily kill an ox. His mind also felt sharper than ever, and his spirit had strengthened in ways that surprised even him.

Not only did it enhance his physical abilities, but it also significantly boosted his mental strength, making him even more perceptive. Most martial arts systems didn’t even mention a realm beyond peak mastery, but his technique seemed to include an additional Great Completion Stage.

Exhaling a breath of stale air, Yang Yi stretched and felt his bones crackle like metal grinding against metal. He was undoubtedly stronger than ever before. With power came hunger, and his stomach growled in protest. Without hesitation, he retrieved some dried rations and fruit from his system storage, eating openly for the first time. He no longer had to hide his meals—if anyone tried to steal from him, he would simply loot their corpse afterward.

As he chewed and swallowed, his gaze drifted toward the deep end of the corridor.

Meng Jiangnv had told him that while he was asleep, a brutal fight had broken out among the prisoners. That meant there were fresh corpses waiting to be looted. However, he decided against leaving just yet. Instead, he glanced at the sleeping woman beside him and made a decision. He would wait for her to wake up and take her along.

At his current strength level, and with a weapon in hand, very few people could pose a threat to him. However, he couldn’t afford to be careless. This world wasn’t just about brute force. The existence of different martial sects—such as the Mohists and the Medical Sect—proved that there were hidden dangers he had yet to uncover. The underground palace might hold more than just tomb guards; there could be other martial artists among the trapped prisoners.

Even the other Mohist disciples who had been thrown in with them might have hidden abilities. Yang Yi had no connection with them. He wasn’t invited here as a craftsman—he was forcibly conscripted. Technically speaking, he wasn’t even a true Mohist disciple, merely someone who had followed an elder to learn mechanical arts. That likely explained why he didn’t inherit any Mohist cultivation techniques.

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Since there was nothing else to do, he closed his eyes and resumed training. Cultivation was a slow and monotonous process. In the world of ancient martial arts, progress was never achieved overnight. Had it not been for his system’s condensed training time, he might have spent seven to ten years just reaching his current level. After all, martial arts required immense resources—proper food, medicine, and rare herbs were all crucial for rapid improvement.

The phrase “scholars starve, warriors thrive” wasn’t just an empty saying. Martial cultivation demanded both wealth and resources, far beyond what most commoners could afford.

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After an unknown amount of time, a soft voice finally broke the silence.

“Young Master, thank you for standing guard.”

Yang Yi opened his eyes, meeting Meng Jiangnv’s gaze. She was fully awake now, and something about her expression had changed. Checking her loyalty level, he was shocked. It had increased to ninety. His brows furrowed slightly. “Is it really this easy to increase loyalty?”

She had gained five points just from sleeping near him. Then, realization dawned on him. Perhaps it wasn’t just the act of sleeping—it was the sense of security she had felt under his protection. A loyalty score of ninety was exceptionally high. At this level, he suspected that even if he asked her to share a bed with him, she would only hesitate out of shyness, rather than outright refusal.

“Are you thirsty?” he asked, noticing the dryness of her lips.

Meng Jiangnv nodded. “Yes…”

Without a word, Yang Yi reached into his system storage and pulled out a fresh pear, handing it to her. Meng Jiangnv visibly flinched. “A… pear? Where did this come from?”

Her voice trembled. First, it was a kitchen knife, and now he was producing fresh fruit out of nowhere. “Eat it. It’ll help replenish your fluids,” Yang Yi said casually. “Just think of it as one of my special abilities. Like I said before, I’ll do everything I can to keep you alive.”

Meng Jiangnv stared at him in awe, slowly accepting the fruit. “Thank you, Young Master…”

As she took her first bite, Yang Yi noticed another notification from the system. Her loyalty had risen again—to ninety-two. His lips curled into a smile. At this rate, she was going to be completely devoted to him in no time.