The moment Xu Han entered the chat, there was a flood. A torrent of welcomes, hellos and laughter. His follow dungeon cores were delighted to see him entering the chat again, and they weren’t shy about showing it.

  It was something Xu Han never received in his past life, and the former cultivator realized that it was a great feeling. Going back to the Dungeon Core Group chat was a little like going home after a long trip away. There was the familiar chaos, the nonsensical arguments between family members who were too used to each other for social niceties, and the sheer, unadulterated weirdness of the elders who oversee everything with amused smiles.

  It was all strangely comforting.

  Unused to it all, Xu Han had to brace himself for a moment before diving headfirst into the glorious abyss that was his new family.

  “Xu Han greets his seniors!”

  A barrage of laughter immediately erupted.

  “The new core is back! And he’s just as strange as before!” Someone shouted over the chat.

  “You mean he’s just as polite as before, something all of you barbarians should try to emulate.” The senior dungeon core known as Snowy Grief countered.

  A counter that was immediately met with a chorus of boos. Xu Han laughed, feeling the weight of the world lifting from his shoulders at the strange and funny interaction. He missed this chaotic, bizarre, and utterly lovely family of Dungeon Cores!

  “Seniors, is the Dungeon Master here?”

  “The old fuddy-duddy? No, he’s not here. You need him for something?” A dungeon core named Dancing Green replied.

  “I have an idea for my dungeon, an idea that might be controversial. I thought it might be better to discuss it with the Dungeon Master first before implementing it.”

  “Well, he’s not here right now. Why don’t you tell us your idea and let us advise you on the matter.” Dancing Green said with a mischievous tone.

  Xu Han paused, considering his options. He respected the Dungeon Master immensely, but his fellow cores were also his seniors. In his interaction with the seniors, Xu Han realized that while most of them weren’t known for their wisdom or level-headedness, they were experienced, and he needed feedback.

  Waiting for the Dungeon Master would take time, so Xu Han decided to take the chat on their offer. The newest dungeon core in the chat held nothing back, telling the other cores of his plans to create a Merit Fund and explaining how the adventurers could exchange the points at a store for treasures that included his Dungeon Technique.

  The reply from the other dungeon cores was unexpected.

  “Oh! You want to create a Dungeon Store.” Challenger exclaimed.

  “A Dungeon Store?”

  Xu Han was unaware of the term and Snowy Grief explained. “It’s a function some of us have in our dungeon. Adventurers earn Dungeon Points by completing challenges within our dungeon. Then, they can use these points to purchase items or skills directly from our stores. It is a great way to keep adventurers engaged and motivated. If done well, it could foster a symbiotic relationship between them and us.”

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  Xu Han listened intently, absorbing this new information. Shame and embarrassment filled his heart. He hadn't realized there was already an established concept for what he was trying to create and felt like one of those silly young cultivators who created a new cultivation technique, only to discover that some old monster had done the same thing centuries ago. And did it better!

  Even Xu Han had to admit a Dungeon Store sounded much better than a ‘Merit Fund’ and wondered aloud. “Why didn’t Jemma tell me about this?”

  “Jemma is your dungeon fairy, right? Well, she probably didn’t know as you are both new. This function is more for advanced dungeons, and you are a little young for a Dungeon Store. Most dungeons only start them when they go pass the twenty-fifth floor.” A dungeon core named Bookkeeper answered.

  “Why?”

  “Like Snowy Grief said, it is a great way to motivate adventurers, especially young adventurers. Think about it; if you are a brand-new adventurer, would you want to enter a dungeon that’s a hundred floors deep?” The scholarly Bookkeeper asked. “Any treasure you find would have been found before, and you would probably never catch up to old adventurers in the lower floors. That’s why new adventurers usually go to newly formed dungeons instead.”

  “Dungeon cores need incentives to get the new adventurers to enter, and the Dungeon Store is a great way to do that. Young dungeons like yours don’t have this problem, so a Dungeon Store is not really needed for you.” Snowy Grief added.

  “So, it's already a thing?” Xu Han asked, slightly deflated but also relieved. This was precisely the type of feedback he needed. Better to know about it now than after the error.

  “Indeed,” a amused Dancing Green chimed in. “Did you think it was a new idea, and none of us had thought of it before?”

  That was exactly what Xu Han thought, but he had too much face to admit it. He stayed silent, which was answer enough for the rest of the cores. They laughed.

  When the laughter finally died down, Snowy Grief gave Xu Han a warning.“Just because several of us has a store, does not mean you should create one at this moment. You are too young and your idea of including your Dungeon Technique is... ambitious, to say the least.”

  Xu Han’s curiosity was piqued. “Why is that a problem?”

  With a voice that sounded like rustling leaves, Dancing Green answered. “You haven’t even reached your tenth floor, so what can you offer the adventurers outside your Dungeon Techniques? Remember, most of the adventurers delving your dungeon are beginners. They are more interested in cheap swords and useful skills than powerful spells that require a deep mana pool to cast, or skills that has high level requirements. What good would esoteric knowledge do them?”

  “Does that matter?” Xu Han asked. “Knowledge is its own reward.”

  “Yes, it does matter,” Bookkeeper corrected the new core. “Adventurers are not scholars. They want something that make them rich and powerful. An interesting skill they can’t use do neither. At best, you will be causing envy and recklessness by offering a powerful spell to adventurers who do not have the levels to cast it. In the worst-case scenario, you may attract powerful adventurers beyond your ability to handle. If you offer the Dungeon Techniques, high leveled adventurers may enter your dungeon and just camp inside to gather dungeon points for the techniques. And you won’t be able to do anything about them!”

  Several other dungeon cores chimed in, agreeing with the two senior dungeon cores. Xu Han was feeling a little worried. The idea for the store was good, but he understood where the other dungeon cores were coming from. If he creates the Dungeon Store, strong adventurers may be attracted to his dungeon, and that was danger. In many ways, it was like a secret realm in the Crimson Lands without any entry restriction. Strong cultivators could enter for the treasures and forced everyone weaker than them out of the realm. That might be good for the cultivator, but terrible for the secret realm as it would not be fulfilling its function.

  No wonder most secret realms had some sort of entry requirements!

  As Xu Han’s mood fell, encouragement came from an unexpected corner.

  “Nonsense,” a deep voice rumbled.