Ji-Hoon said, "Can you stay quiet for some time? I know exactly what I'm doing. I know what needs to be done. But my body is in extreme pain, and taking this body all the way to my core is far more difficult than I expected."
Layla laughed lightly and replied, "Haha, I already know you're having trouble. But what is this? An obstacle? If you want to stop by giving an excuse, that's your choice."
Ji-Hoon interrupted her immediately. "You're talking too much now. I'm not the kind of person who runs away using excuses."
He continued, "This body is filled with too much trash, and it's interfering with my work. Blood is even coming out of my mouth. It will just take some time. Anyway, this light is natural, right? Using it shouldn't be that hard. And if everything went according to my plan and I won easily, then there would be no point in sending me here. That's why I'll just give my best. The result doesn't matter."
After saying this, he sat down cross-legged. Hearing all this, Layla simply said, "Huh," and stayed silent.
Meanwhile, the battlefield had reached its peak. The Asura Wolf, using its ultimate skills, was completely suppressing the Dark Illusionary Fox. The fox was barely able to defend itself. Earlier, when three foxes together had bullied the Asura Wolf, things were different. But now, with its current abilities, the wolf had grown strong enough to counter all three fox beasts alone.
However, at this moment, one beast was already covered in severe injuries, while another was still busy fighting the Golden Wolf.
Ji-Hoon was absorbing the surrounding aura calmly. He was simply using the normal method Layla had taught him. He remembered how Layla had explained many things inside his mind, and one important point was absorbing without anger.
She had explained it step by step.
The first step was to free the mind.
The second step was to feel one's core.
Once the core was sensed, the third step was to absorb the external aura into the body.
She had said that once he started thinking this way, the aura would automatically begin flowing inside him, because this battlefield was filled with far denser aura than normal places.
The fourth step was to gather the aura circulating inside the body and guide it toward the core, where it would automatically settle.
As Ji-Hoon recalled all this, the aura around him grew stronger. The starlight began to fade rapidly, while his own strength continued to rise. He had been absorbing aura for quite some time now. His face showed complex expressions. He felt that things were going well, and that realization made him feel strangely satisfied. However, the pain during this process was unbearable.
Suddenly, Ji-Hoon spat out blood. Right after that, he bent forward as if vomiting and dropped onto his hands. He vomited blood twice in succession. There was a faint smile on his face, and tears had slightly formed in his eyes because of the strain. Blood stained both of his hands.
The amount of blood he vomited wasn't extremely large, but it wasn't normal blood either. Its color was dark red, and within it were hair-like threads—ten times thinner than normal strands—clearly visible.
With blood still covering his hands, Ji-Hoon quickly pushed himself up and stood. He placed his hand on his stomach, sensing something deeply.
At that moment, a voice spoke. "Hey Ji-Hoon, what are you doing? Are you pregnant or something? Trying to feel your baby?"
Hearing this, Ji-Hoon snapped, "Layla, bitch, shut up."
Laughing, Layla replied, "Nice work. You've already filled half of your core with aura. Things will speed up now. Just don't rush. Work with proper concentration and slowly increase your control over your core."
Ji-Hoon laughed. "Yeah, I know I've gained half control, but I don't really feel much. It feels like I've only gained about five percent control."
Layla answered, "That's because it's your first time. You won't understand everything clearly yet. Feeling this for the first time naturally feels confusing."
Ji-Hoon understood a little, but as he tried to feel it again, something else began to surface.
Suddenly, he exclaimed, "Layla, I can feel it clearly now!" As he said this, a small flame of purple-colored aura appeared on his fingertip.
When he did that, he noticed the dark red blood lines still clinging to his hands. In the very next second, when he looked at his body, thick blood vessels had emerged all over him. They looked terrifying, making his body appear completely different from before.
Seeing this, Ji-Hoon was shocked. He jumped up instinctively and shouted, "What is this?" Blood was still leaking from his mouth.
He called out urgently, "Layla, look at what's happening to my body!"
For a moment, complete silence spread everywhere. There was no response from Layla. Ji-Hoon spat a little blood onto the ground and stared at his hands, legs, and entire body. Dangerous blood veins had surfaced all over his skin, spreading like threads across his entire body.
He stood there for some time, staring blankly. Then he said, "Layla, did you die from shock after seeing my huge achievement?"
At that moment, Layla's voice struck his mind like thunder.
"Ji-Hoon, you trash, bullshit dog. You can't even do a single thing properly."