If he was still a cultivator, he would have gone into closed door cultivation, to better understand the question of a core’s existence and comprehend the answer. However, he was now a dungeon core, and certain expectations came with his new species. Xu Han could not simply hole himself up and endlessly cultivate like the past. As a dungeon core, that’s a death sentence. He needed to interact with others. Especially adventurers, who were both his enemies and allies in his search for growth and power.

  Xu Han was not new to the need of alliances, but a dungeon core’s dynamic with adventurers is different from an alliance between two cultivators. In many ways, Xu Han believed their relationship was more like that of a shopkeeper and his customers.

  Adventurers are the customers, and the dungeon is the store where they shopped and spend their gold. Well, dungeon points. Gold was useless to Xu Han when he could just create his own.

  As the dungeon core, Xu Han was the shopkeeper His job was to ensure that his store was well-stocked with challenges and treasures, that the ambiance was sufficiently enticing, and that the overall experience left the adventurers wanting more.

  Having return customers was key. A poorly managed dungeon would quickly gain a bad reputation, causing current customers to stay away, and scaring away potential new customers. A well-designed dungeon, however, would attract waves of adventurers, both old and new, eager to test their skills and risk their lives for the chance of rewards.

  From what Xu Han gathered, this concept was not unknown to the dungeon cores.

  Cores understand that adventurers were vital components of a dungeon's ecosystem. Their deaths may fuel a dungeon’s growth but a dungeon cores did not seek to kill all adventurers, because a dungeon core need to give the adventurers the occasion win. Their victories spread a dungeon’s name.

  A dungeon core needed to strike the delicate balance of risk and reward, life and death, attraction and repulsion. As Jemma had tried to drill into him on many occasions; adventurers weren’t just potential enemies, they were also potential recruiters.

  Recruiters for the dungeon.

  “Is something the matter, Xu Han?”

  His silence was noted, and Xu Han quickly answered the core who asked. “No, senior. I was just thinking about something?”

  “Oh, what about? Maybe we can help you?”

  Xu Han hesitated for a moment. He did not know how the cores would react to questions to his musing about the reasons of their existence, so he answered in a careful tone, “I was just pondering the reason of our existence. Why we are here? In my old world, there were no dungeon cores. Why is it different here? It’s stupid, I know.”

  A ripple of murmurs passed through the chat after his words, and Xu Han braced himself for ridicule. Instead, the gentle voice of Snowy Grief cut through the anticipation. “Stupid? Perhaps, but certainly something worth considering. Tell me Xu Han, what brought you to this pondering?”

  Seeing that he had a receptive audience, Xu Han explained. He told the cores his self-doubts and ended his explanation with a question.

  “Are dungeon cores not meant for more?”

  A hush fell. The silence was not judgement, but contemplation. Xu Han could almost feel the other cores considering his words, each wrestling with the question of what defined them.

  Then, a core laughed.

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  “Existence? We are dungeon cores. That’s our existence! That is our purpose!”

  Once again, it was Mountain River, and the laughter, initially isolated, quickly spread. It echoed through the chat, replacing the silent contemplations of other cores. If he had a body, Xu Han would have blinked. What was that?

  “You’re thinking too deep, new guy. You thinking elves, humans, and humans wondered about such things?” Bookkeeper asked.

  “Some do.” Xu Han’s answer was immediate. He would know, he used to be a human. However, Bookkeeper had a counter for him.

  “Most don’t. They are too busy living, surviving, and levelling to worry about such things.”

  Xu Han had to admit there was some true to that, but he countered with another question. “That is true, but the Will of this world allows dungeon cores to be born and strive in this world. I guessed I am wondering why it allows us to exist. What is our purpose?”

  “That’s simple.” Challenger chimed in; its voice laced with amusement. “We provide challenges. We create treasures. We give adventurers levels! Without us, the only way the people of this world could gain levels would be to war with each level. Species murdering each other for levels and power. We are the reason wars are so rare.”

  A chorus of agreement came through the chat, as Xu Han pondered the implication. Did the Will allowed his species to exist just to prevent worldwide conflict? It was a grim thought that reeked of self-justification. However, self-justified or not, Xu Han found that he quite liked the answer. For once, was the Crazed Scholar… a hero?

  It took all of Xu Han’s self-control not to laugh.

  “So, we are... necessary evils?” Xu Han finally asked.

  “What makes you think survival has anything to do with good and evil? People do terrible things to survive, to keep their loved ones alive. Is that evil?” Snowy Grief pointed out. “Personally, I don’t think so.”

  Several cores immediately agreed with Snowy Grief, and Xu Han found that he was one of them. He was never a just man in his past life and had done terrible things to advance his cultivation. He had many regrets, but not being a good man was not one of them.

  Cultivators who were good men died young.

  “This is interesting. I don’t think we ever had such a deep philosophical conversation before. Is there anything else you want to add, Xu Han?” Mountain River laughed.

  There was. Something Xu Han just thought of that could repay some of the debt he owned the other cores. As the laughter died down, Xu Han made his offer. An offer that got everyone buzzing.

  “A Vial of Change? One that could change the species of the drinker? You have something like that?” Mountain River was incredulous, and he was not alone.

  “It’s not mine,” Xu Han clarified. “It’s created by Carda, the Lord of Cards, a new god of this land. I have an agreement with him, and this vial is something he offers to adventurers in my dungeon via an emissary.”

  “So why are you offering us the vial to sell in our stores? Is that even allowed?” Dancing Green asked.

  “No,” Bookkeeper immediately said. “Vials like this are usually restricted, passed to the ‘worthy’ as judged by the god. What are the criteria for an adventurer to be offer this Vial of Change, Xu Han?”

  “I have no idea,” Xu Han admitted. “Everything is handled by the Guardian of Cards, the emissary of Carda. There is a trial the adventurer needs to pass. Win a card game against the Guardian, but even then, the Guardian does not offer the vial to everyone who beats him. I’m not sure what the Guardian is looking for, but I know the Guardian is looking for more people to give the vial to so I believe we can come to an agreement.”

  Murmurings flooded the chat as the cores discussed Xu Han’s offer. Snowy Grief was the first to approach Xu Han.

  “I am more than willing to take you up on your offer, but this is risky. The vial’s power is immense. Are you sure Carda want to make it so readily available? Even at the highest prices, there will be many adventurers who would want it.”

  “Grief is correct. Just offering it for sale won’t work. It may even offend the god.” Bookkeeper said.

  “Perhaps a different approach. We can make it a quest-based reward, tied to a difficult challenge. Some ‘tests’ that would satisfy the criteria of the Lord of Cards. An adventurer need to pass the tests, then he have the chance to buy the vial at a high price.” Challenger suggested.

  “Challenger, you want the vial?” A shocked dungeon core asked.

  “Why not?” Challenger asked. “It’ll be a new challenge in my dungeon, with a powerful new reward. If the god agrees, then I don’t see a problem. Xu Han, could you ask this new god if he will allow me to sell his vial? Oh, and what kind of quest do I need to give to adventurers who wants it? I am willing to tailor the quest to the god’s liking.

  “True, there’s no reason to risk the wrath of a god.” Mountain River agreed. “Xu Han, can you ask the god on my behalf as well?”

  “Not a problem, seniors. In fact, that sounds like a great idea!” Xu Han immediately agreed. “Let me speak to the Guardian and get back to all of you.”