My Infinite Cultivation System-Chapter 114: Ember sacrificed his life force

The serpent stirred first.

The contract had already settled into place. It did not require Alex’s consciousness to function. The moment the binding completed, the ancient creature felt the change inside its core. A thread formed, subtle yet absolute, tying its existence to the fragile human lying in the snow. Loyalty was no longer a choice. Protection was no longer instinct. Both had become law.

The serpent slowly lifted its massive head. Frost cracked and fell from its scales as it moved. The cold around it deepened, yet its movements were careful. It adjusted its long body and coiled loosely around Alex without touching him directly. The curve of its massive form blocked the biting wind, while its tail pressed into the ice to stabilize the barrier.

Alex’s breathing was shallow. His skin was pale. The serpent lowered its fractured eyes and watched him in silence.

Then the dragon horse arrived.

The creature stepped across the frozen terrain without hesitation. The air around it shimmered faintly as its nullification talent erased the harmful energies lingering in the realm. Ice storms that should have slowed it dispersed before touching its body. Fractured spatial currents flattened as it passed. The dragon horse reached Alex within seconds.

It stopped on the opposite side of the unconscious human.

Warmth radiated from its body. The heat was not ordinary fire. It was a steady life warmth, stable and controlled, designed to nurture rather than destroy. The cold aura emitted by the serpent collided with that warmth, and the two forces balanced each other. The temperature around Alex stabilized, preventing both freezing and overheating.

The serpent turned its head slightly. The dragon horse met its gaze. Neither creature showed hostility. The contract linking them to the same master suppressed any territorial instinct. They understood their roles immediately.

Without a word, they formed a living fortress.

The serpent coiled wider, its scales forming an outer defensive ring. The dragon horse stood closer, lowering its body to shield Alex from above. Their auras overlapped, creating a stable environment in the hostile frozen world.

But neither of them moved further.

They could guard him. They could fight for him. They could maintain his physical condition.

They could not heal what was wrong.

The weakness consuming Alex was not a physical wound. It did not smell like poison. It did not resemble frost damage or internal bleeding. His life force itself was fading, like a flame that had burned too intensely and exhausted its fuel.

The serpent sensed it first. The dragon horse confirmed it moments later.

Both beasts remained still.

They could only wait.

Then the shadows moved.

It began beneath Alex’s body. The darkness between his form and the serpent’s coils deepened unnaturally. The shadow did not expand outward. Instead, it condensed, becoming denser, more tangible, until something small pushed through.

A tiny claw emerged first.

Then a small head followed.

The creature climbed out of the shadow slowly, its body barely larger than a house cat. Its scales were Emarald in color.

Ember.

The small dragon looked at Alex without speaking. Its glowing eyes studied his face carefully. Then it climbed onto his chest and settled there, its tiny weight barely noticeable.

It lowered its head and pressed its forehead gently against his.

Its scales began to warm.

The warmth intensified gradually. It passed from mild heat to something deeper, something that felt alive rather than simply hot. The air around them changed. The frozen ground beneath Alex began to melt slightly.

The dragon horse shifted its stance. It recognized the energy. Its nullification talent stirred instinctively, preparing to intervene if the power became harmful. But it paused. This was not destructive energy. It was life energy.

Ember spoke softly.

"Master, you forbade me from using my talent on you before reaching the planetary realm. But your life force is extremely weak. I cannot ignore this."

Its voice carried calm determination rather than hesitation.

"Please forgive me."

The serpent tightened its coils slightly. The dragon horse stepped closer. Both understood the cost even before the process began.

Ember closed its eyes.

Green light appeared.

It did not burst outward. It flowed gently, like a spring emerging from deep underground. The energy spread from Ember’s small body and entered Alex through his chest. The moment the light touched him, his breathing changed.

The shallow rhythm deepened.

The irregular pauses disappeared.

Color began to return to his face.

The energy moved through his veins, repairing damage that neither beast could perceive directly. Burned life essence stabilized. Fractured internal balance realigned. The exhaustion caused by the loss of life force stabilized a little.

The effect was immediate.

But the cost was equally visible.

Ember’s scales began to dull. The green sheen faded gradually, replaced by a muted gray tone. Its small body trembled. The glow in its eyes weakened.

The green light did not stop.

It continued to flow, minute after minute.

The dragon horse lowered its head and remained close, ready to support Ember if necessary. The serpent widened its coils further, sealing the area completely. Neither creature interrupted the process. They understood that stopping halfway would be worse.

The green energy intensified once more.

Alex’s heartbeat strengthened. His chest rose and fell steadily. The faint aura of death surrounding him dissipated.

Only then did Ember withdraw.

The light faded.

The small dragon swayed weakly. Its claws dug into Alex’s shirt to maintain balance. Its scales had lost all luster. Its eyes were half closed.

"Master," it whispered faintly. "Please wake up."

The dragon horse gently nudged Ember with its nose, supporting the tiny body. The serpent remained motionless, watching silently.

Alex did not wake immediately.

His body required time to absorb the life force and rebuild its depleted reserves a little. But his condition stabilized. The danger passed.

Ember curled into a small ball on his chest. It no longer had the strength to move. The green aura vanished entirely, leaving only the cold glow of the frozen realm.

The three beasts waited.

Time passed slowly.

The frozen wind howled across the terrain. Ice crystals formed and shattered repeatedly. The serpent remained coiled. The dragon horse stood still. Ember slept.

Three hours later, Alex’s fingers twitched.

His eyes opened slowly.

The first thing he saw was the serpent’s massive body surrounding him. Then he noticed the dragon horse standing close. Finally, he felt the weak weight on his chest.

He looked down.

Ember lay curled there, its scales were dull, its breathing was faint.

Alex’s pupils contracted.

He understood immediately.

"Rafael," he said quietly. "What happened after I passed out?"

The system responded.

[It is as you think. Ember used his talent.]

Alex remained silent for a moment.

He looked at the small dragon carefully. The exhaustion was obvious. The loss of vitality was even more obvious. Ember had not simply used energy. It had sacrificed its own life force.

Warmth filled Alex’s chest.

He lifted his hand slowly and touched the small dragon gently.

"Thank you, Ember," he said softly. "Do not worry. None of us will die. I will find a way to restore both of our lifespan completely."

Ember did not wake, but its breathing steadied slightly.

Alex took a deep breath.

"Trial Store," he muttered.

An interface appeared before him immediately. Rows of items filled his vision. The list extended endlessly, each entry labeled with names, effects, and prices.

"Life expanding treasures," he searched.

The interface shifted.

Thousands of results appeared.

Alex scanned the list quickly. His expression changed as he read the prices. Many items required millions of points. Some demanded billions. The numbers climbed higher the further he looked.

He swallowed.

"Arrange from lowest to highest price."

The list reorganized instantly.

[1. Vitality Alcohol: 10 points. Increase 10 days lifespan. Maximum use: 20 times.]

[2. Holy Water: 100 points. Increase 50 days lifespan. Maximum use: 15 times.]

[3. Vitality Fruit: 500 points. Increase 50 days lifespan. Maximum use: 20 times.]

Alex frowned slightly.

The low tier items only increased lifespan by days. Even with maximum usage, they would not restore what Ember had sacrificed. He scrolled further.

More entries appeared.

[12. Spirit Bloom: 5000 points. Increase 120 days lifespan. Maximum use: 10 times.]

[19. Ancient Dew: 20000 points. Increase 1 year lifespan. Maximum use: 8 times.]

Alex paused briefly at that entry. One year was meaningful. But the total restoration still required multiple purchases. He continued scrolling.

The numbers increased rapidly.

[27. Golden Vital Root: 200000 points. Increase 5 years lifespan. Maximum use: 5 times.]

Alex’s eyes narrowed.

Still insufficient.

He kept scrolling.

The interface continued.

The prices jumped from hundreds of thousands to millions.

[38. Celestial Longevity Pearl: 5 million points. Increase 20 years lifespan. Maximum use: 3 times.]

Alex exhaled slowly.

He did not stop.

He continued searching.

Finally, one entry caught his attention.

[50. Phoenix Fruit: 100 million points. Increase 100 years lifespan. Maximum use: 10 times.]

Alex stared at the number.

One hundred million points.

He checked his own balance.

Around ten thousand.

The difference was overwhelming.

He leaned back slightly, thinking in silence. The low tier items were affordable but inefficient. The high tier item provided a complete solution but required a massive amount of points.

He looked at Ember again.

The tiny dragon slept quietly, its body was weak but stable.

Alex’s expression hardened.

"Need to actively start the hunt now."