“The new core has an idea, and since when do we stop cores from trying out new ideas?” It was Mountain River, a dungeon core known for its recklessness and brutal honesty.

  “Mountain…” Snowy Grief’s warning tone came through the chat, but Mountain River ignored it.

  “Stop trying to mother him, Grief. So what if he only has a few floors? Every great dungeon started somewhere, and since he already has a reputation for being weird and unique; I say let him lean into it.” Mountain River continued with a hint of a chuckle in his voice. “Didn’t our great glorious leader, The Dungeon Master, once said that the best way for a dungeon to grow was to make mistakes? So, I say we let him try. If he succeed, great! If he fails, he can learn from the experience. Something far more valuable than stagnating in fear.”

  That caught Xu Han by surprise. “Wait. I’m considered ‘weird’?”

  “You’re the first dungeon that had the Dungeon Techniques.” A dungeon core in the chat plainly explained.

  “You give out treasures designed from another world.” said another.

  “You have an agreement with two Gods, at floor… what? Five? How many floors do you have now?” added a third.

  Well, when they put it like that… and he has six floors at the moment but Xu Han did not inform the third core of that. In the brief time he had been a dungeon core, he discovered that it was considered uncouth to brag about how may floors you have. Xu Han could understand that; it was similar to how cultivators kept their realms a secret in the Crimson Lands.

  “My dungeon fairy told me that some strangeness will add to the infamy of my dungeon. And that infamy was not always a bad thing for a dungeon core.” Xu Han replied instead.

  If the other dungeon cores noticed his aversion, they did not comment on it. Instead, Mountain River agreed with Jemma. “Your fairy’s right. So, a little extra on that front will hardly change the flow of that river for you. I say we give the new guy a chance and let’s see how this ‘weird’ dungeon core can shake things up.”

  “It is a big risk.” Dancing Green warned.

  “Since when had that stopped us?” Mountain River asked. “We are dungeon cores. Our existence is risky by definition. Look, I understand all your concerns, and I shall admit that Xu Han’s idea may be premature. His dungeon is not ready, and maybe his Dungeon Store will be a spectacular failure.” Mountain River paused, then addressed Xu Han with a gruff sincerity, “So what? Xu Han, don’t let caution hold you back. A dungeon core is the lord of his dungeon. You are new, but you are a Dungeon Core. You are the Lord of your Dungeon. Act like it! If you want to do something, then do it! You want advice? Fine. You want feedback? Not a problem. But never ask for permission. You don’t need it. It is ‘your’ dungeon! Who cares if your idea is a bit… aspirational? Do what you want and adapt if you fail.”

  The senior dungeon core laughed, a hearty full-blooded laugh that shook Xu Han. He took heart. Doubts still lingered, but Mountain River's encouraging words were like a candlelight in the darkness of a moonless sky. It stirred something within him. In that moment, Xu Han made his decision.

  He knew his dungeon was laughable compared to the other cores. That their warnings were more than fair, but Mountain River's words had stirred something. Something that Xu Han had buried since arriving on this world.

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  Ambition.

  Xu Han was ambitious. He was a former cultivator who had reached the Soul Emperor realm, a step below Godhood. No cultivator reached that realm by being timid. Xu Han sent a message back to the chat group.

  “Thank you, Mountain River. I understand. You are right; It is better to fail, than to not try at all.”

  A wave of determination washed over Xu Han the moment he said those words. The anxieties he had fell away, and Xu Han knew something had changed. If he was still a cultivator, he would say he had progress in understanding his Dao, his chosen way of life. Xu Han did not know what that meant as a dungeon core, but Mountain River’s words ignited something.

  Snowy Grief sighed. “Fine. If you really want to create a Dungeon Store, you can do that but at least let us muddy the water for you first.”

  “What do you mean, senior?”

  “I shall offer Dungeon Techniques in my store?”

  The simple answer from Snowy Grief stunned the chat group.

  “Grief, what do you mean?” One of the dungeon cores asked tentatively.

  “I already have a Dungeon Store, and had traded with Xu Han for the techniques. Haven’t done anything with it yet, but once I get back to my dungeon, I shall offer my Dungeon Techniques for sale. If we all do the same, the adventurers would think nothing of it when Xu Han eventually does the same for his store.”

  The senior dungeon core explained and after a few moments of consideration, several of the core voiced their agreement.

  “Makes sense,” Challenger said, “our newest member has been causing a lot of trouble with all the ideas he has. But if we do this first, it would like he is copying us instead of the other way around.”

  “Good point. Xu Han, have you created your store yet? No? Then, take your time with it. Let us put our techniques in our stores first, then you can show off your Dungeon Store with the techniques in it.” Bookkeeper suggested.

  “Bookkeeper, you don’t have a Dungeon Store. You’re nowhere near Floor 25.” Mountain River sneered.

  “Neither is our newest member,” Bookkeeper chuckled, “but if Xu Han is going to offer a Dungeon Store at his young dungeon, then it makes sense for the rest of us youngsters to do the same. After all, we want to make it look normal for young dungeons to have a store, right?”

  Murmurs flooded the chat as several of the dungeon core, especially the younger ones, began to discuss Bookkeeper’s suggestion. Some looked forward to creating their own store, while others preferred to stay with tradition and waited till their twenty-fifth floor. One dungeon joked that they should called this the ‘Store for All’ quest. Xu Han kept his peace during the discussion.

  Honestly, the former cultivator was growing a little uncomfortable with the actions of the cores.

  Xu Han did not know of the Dungeon Store before he came onto the chat and had no idea if the early implementation of the store would be a boon or bane for the other cores. The other dungeon cores did not know either, and they did not care. They were still willing to risk it for him. All to take unwanted attention off his dungeon. It was uncomfortable to Xu Han. The cores were taking a risk for him, and he had no real way of repaying them. He did not want to owe them anything.

  It was the problem.

  The other cores thought nothing about this favor they were doing for Xu Han, some might even think it was expected as his seniors, but Xu Han was not comfortable taking favors he could not repay. A drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring, and Xu Han had pride. He was a proud cultivator in his past life, and that pride had bled over to his new one.

  Xu Han sighed. He was too weak. There were many differences between the Crimson Land and this world, but strength was still all-important. If he was stronger, if his dungeon was bigger, if his monsters and Bosses were more powerful, then this favor would not be needed. He could create his Dungeon Store and damn the consequences.

  He was not strong enough, and that’s why the other cores needed to help him. Floors equal strength, and strength equals power. That was what Jemma had told him, but not for the first time, Xu Han wondered about that. What did it mean to be a dungeon core? Power was important, but was growing bigger all there was to it? Was giving out treasures and enticing adventurers to risk their lives the main goal of a dungeon core? Something deep within Xu Han told him it’s not. That there must be something more to his new existence.

  To their existence.