It was supposed to be a boring day.

Xu Han, the dungeon core of the Tomb of Ten Thousand Techniques, silently looked on as various groups of adventurers tried their best to defeat his dungeon. The local Adventurer Guild seem to have some sort of system in place, as groups of adventurers came into the dungeon one after another and the number never went past the limit of fifty. Right now, a big group of adventurers were waiting on the second floor while new groups of adventurers were slowly making their way through the fog on the first. The adventurers knew of the traps within the fog and were carefully making their way through it. They felt safe, and some were even going to several orbs to look for treasure.

These adventurers annoyed the dungeon core.

“I really need to do something about the first floor,” Xu Han muttered. “It's become too easy. Once the adventurers get the trick, they can get past the first floor without any problems.”

“Well, you can add a few more traps in the fog if you are really that bored.”

Xu Han looked at his dungeon fairy, Jemma. He did not appreciate the tone of the dungeon fairy, especially when she was the one who complained that he wasn't spending enough time improving his dungeon. To her credit, the dungeon fairy knew what was on his mind and didn’t falter.

“If you are looking to make the dungeon safer, then adding traps on the first floor will not do that,” Jemma continued, “in fact, you should not do that. As more and more adventurers survive the first floor, even more adventurers will enter to try their luck. That is a good thing. What you need is something else. You need a level between you and the adventurers. The Tomb of Ten Thousand Techniques need a new floor."

“I know, I know. You said that already,” Xu Han said in exasperation, “but no one had reached the third floor yet, much less completed it. I have time to -”

“No, you do not. The adventurers haven’t completed the third floor because they choose not to. Remember that the Adventurer Guild can send a party of level 50 down here any time they want to. Core, you are not as safe as you think you are.” Jemma warned.

That was unfortunately true. While it was impressive that his dungeon had gotten this far, Xu Han knew that the protection of his dungeon was an illusion. There were many other dungeons out there with longer histories and better creatures, and they had been defeated and destroyed by adventurers. If this was the Crimson Lands, Xu Han would be nothing but a promising Foundation cultivator. Strong, powerful, and utterly useless against a Soul Emperor who could wipe him out with a wave of a finger. To be safe, Xu Han need to constantly upgrade and improve his dungeon.

“I take it you have a plan?” Xu Han sighed.

“Of course!” Jemma said with a laugh. “I think we need to change things up. Your first three floors are based around puzzles, so for your new floor, we should focus on that but with a difference.”

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“I haven’t agreed to making a new floor yet but continue.”

“Your first three floors have puzzles that adventurers need to complete, or they will face a Boss fight. Now, how about a puzzle they need to complete while fighting a Boss?” Jemma asked with a smirk.

“Really? Is that common in dungeons?” Xu Han looked at his dungeon fairy curiously. He hadn't expected Jemma to come up with an idea so quickly, which meant she has been thinking about this for some time.

“Yes, it is. Other dungeon cores have them, and they generally work.” Jemma said before gesturing to the screen showing a group of adventurers battling the giant squid Boss of the Lake Room. The party of adventurers were fighting a defensive battle, two [Knights] with their shields standing in front while the rest of the party were shooting spells and arrows at the Boss from the rear. It was a common, effective tactic that works.

It was also so boring Xu Han do not even bother to watch such fights anymore. This party did not even attempt the jig-jaw puzzle and just ran to the end of the room to prepare for the arrival of the Boss.

“Now, how it works is that when the adventurers are fighting a Boss, there would be a puzzle or mechanism in the room that they need to solve. If they succeed, it will give them an advantage against the Boss.”

“What sort of advantage?” Xu Han asked.

“Anything you want. Like a puzzle trap that would hurt the Boss, or something that could give the adventurers a power-up.”

“A what?” Xu Han asked, not understanding the term.

“A ‘power-up’. Basically, if the adventurers complete the puzzle, a spell will trigger giving them a temporary boost like increased strength or extra magical power.” Jemma explained.

“Oh! That’s good.” Xu Han had to admit he never thought of that, but he had experience with similar scenarios. Some Secret Realms in the Crimson Lands did increase your cultivation power once you uncovered their secrets. Xu Han had never heard of any that gave a temporary increase, but he could see how that could work. “Any other examples?”

“Another common method is defensive structures. Complete the puzzle, and some defensive structures would appear that the adventurers can use. Like pillars would appear from the ground, and adventurers can use them to dodge the Boss, or protect themselves from the Boss’ attacks.”

“That doesn’t sound very useful.” Xu Han said.

“In a life and death battle, every advantage counts.” Jemma countered.

Xu Han had to admit the truth of that. “Jemma, why would dungeon cores think up of all these things to give the adventurers an advantage.”

“It makes the fight more interesting. Also, it is only an advantage if the adventurers succeed in completing the puzzle. Remember, the adventurers would be placing themselves at a disadvantage while trying to complete the puzzle. At least one of them would be out of the fight trying to complete the puzzle. It is a question of risk and reward for them.”

Xu Han mentally nodded. He could see how such methods could work, though some parts of it still bugged him. “What if the adventurers decide not to attempt the puzzles?”

“Then they faced the Boss straight on. Like I said, it is a question of risk and reward. It is a choice.” Jemma immediately replied.

That was what was bugging Xu Han. The dungeon core did not like the fact that the adventurers were bypassing the jig-saw puzzles he had spent so much time and effort on. He was in a dilemma about it. While Xu Han didn’t like that the adventurers were choosing to give up on the puzzles, he also didn’t want to force them to do them. As a dungeon core, Xu Han understood that it was important to give the adventurers a choice on what to do, and that meant he had to accept the choices of the adventurers, even if he personally did not like them. However, there must be a way to incentivize the adventurers to attempt the puzzles. After a long lull, Xu Han finally said a word.

“Treasure.”