A Saint Extinguished! Does Fellow Daoist Lu Truly Intend to Inherit the Karma, Fighting to the Death?

"Do you have news regarding Grandmist Qi?" Lu Changsheng's eyes lit up as he looked at the speaker. The cultivator was unfamiliar—Lu Changsheng had never seen him before—but Chen Yuan clearly recognized him. "Fellow Daoist Hengyu, what is the catch? Speak freely, so Fellow Daoist Lu can weigh the matter. If it works out, you naturally won't go without your share of benefits," Chen Yuan said directly. He seemed well acquainted with this chaos lifeform named Hengyu. Hengyu glanced at Lu Changsheng and Chen Yuan, then said, "It is actually quite straightforward. An old friend of mine has a flaw in his mind, and his mind life limit is fast approaching. He merely wishes to find a chaos lifeform to shelter his chaos world. The requirement is at least one life leap, since he has an archenemy who has also achieved one life leap and is eyeing his chaos world like a tiger stalking its prey. "If one is willing to offer protection, not only the Grandmist Qi, but all of my old friend's treasures will belong to Fellow Daoist Lu. "Under ordinary circumstances, asking me would have been the most appropriate choice. Alas, to this day, I have yet to undergo a life leap, so I fear I would be unable to protect my old friend's chaos world..." Hearing Hengyu's explanation, Lu Changsheng understood. The mind life limit. In truth, it simply meant he was about to die. Once one became a chaos lifeform, the physical body virtually ceased to have a natural life limit. So long as the flesh did not collapse, one would not perish. Regrettably, the physical body of a chaos lifeform was far too formidable. Such an immense body required an equally formidable mind to match it. If the mind was insufficiently strong, it would be incapable of governing such a powerful vessel, which would ultimately lead to the body's collapse. And the mind, too, possessed a limit. With the passage of vast stretches of time, no matter how unyielding a mind was, it would gradually sink into dead silence until not a single ripple remained. That marked the arrival of the mind life limit. This was the true meaning of a heart turned to cold ashes. Over enough time, the mind would naturally become extinguished. And once the mind was extinguished, the physical body, stripped of the mind's control, would inevitably disintegrate. Hengyu was well aware of his old friend's plight, and he could not bear to see his friend's chaos world forcibly seized after his demise. Now, an opportunity had presented itself. Lu Changsheng possessed a Black Light Pagoda. Even though he had not yet undergone a life leap, he did not need to fear even chaos lifeforms of two or three life leaps. Lu Changsheng pondered for a moment before speaking. "I need to meet this good friend of yours." "Naturally. My old friend is also a member of the Same Boat Society. I shall contact him at once and have him come to the society to discuss the details with Fellow Daoist Lu." Hengyu was delighted to be able to help his friend, but as for the specific terms the two would negotiate, that had nothing to do with him. Soon, after about an hour, a blue-robed cultivator arrived at the location where Lu Changsheng and the others were gathered. "This is my old friend, Zhou Guang." "So it is Fellow Daoist Zhou." Lu Changsheng and the others greeted him one after another. Zhou Guang's eyes settled on Lu Changsheng immediately. It seemed Hengyu had already informed him that Lu Changsheng was the key figure on this occasion. "Fellow Daoist Lu, might we speak in detail?" Zhou Guang asked straightforwardly. "Of course," Lu Changsheng nodded. With a wave of Zhou Guang's hand, the surrounding environment shifted abruptly. They found themselves inside a quiet meditation chamber. This was another function of the Same Boat Token; consciousness could accomplish anything here, bordering on omnipotence. Whatever the mind envisioned could be manifested instantly—though, of course, strictly within the confines of the token. In such an environment, the matters they discussed would remain entirely private. "Fellow Daoist Lu, you are a cultivator of the Black Light Realm who possesses a Black Light Pagoda. Your future is boundless, so sheltering a chaos world should not be difficult for you. I have only a single enemy: a chaos lifeform who has completed one life leap. If Fellow Daoist is willing to protect my world, every treasure I have accumulated in my lifetime shall be yours," Zhou Guang stated directly, his demeanor exceptionally sincere. Lu Changsheng regarded Zhou Guang. Within the Same Boat Token, one could not detect anything amiss about Zhou Guang's condition. However, given how urgent he was, it was evident that his life limit was truly upon him, and he could barely hold on any longer. At this juncture, so long as his chaos world could be protected, Zhou Guang was willing to pay any price. Lu Changsheng did not agree immediately. Instead, he deliberated for a moment before saying, "A single wisp of Grandmist Qi is not enough!" Once he agreed to provide protection, it would mean far more than simply safeguarding a chaos world; it was equivalent to inheriting the grievances and karma tied to that powerhouse of one life leap. That was no trivial matter. Even though Lu Changsheng desired the Grandmist Qi, he would not agree lightly. "Naturally, that alone is not enough," Zhou Guang said. "But what if it were five wisps of Grandmist Qi, along with eight other cultivation resources of comparable caliber?" Zhou Guang's words sent a tremor through Lu Changsheng's heart. Five wisps of Grandmist Qi? Zhou Guang actually had five wisps of Grandmist Qi in his possession! Moreover, he had eight other cultivation resources comparable to it. If one counted each wisp of Grandmist Qi as a single portion of cultivation resources, Zhou Guang held roughly thirteen portions in total. Thirteen portions! Yet on second thought, this was only natural. Zhou Guang was on the verge of his life limit. Over countless years of accumulation, was it really so difficult for him to have amassed thirteen portions of cultivation resources? Hengyu had only known that Zhou Guang possessed one wisp of Grandmist Qi, unaware that he held thirteen portions in total. That was entirely standard; after all, such wealth constituted Zhou Guang's core foundation, which naturally had to be kept secret. But when facing Lu Changsheng, Zhou Guang had to demonstrate absolute sincerity, rendering secrecy pointless. "Who is your opponent?" Lu Changsheng asked. "Saint Black Flame. He is a chaos lifeform of one life leap. Back before he had fully grown, he suffered suppression at my hands, and his Dao path was nearly severed. Because of this, the enmity between us is irreconcilable—a fight to the death with no room for compromise whatsoever. Once I perish, he will undoubtedly strike at the Zhou Guang World, perhaps even destroying it outright without the slightest mercy. "Were it not for this, I would not have searched so bitterly for an expert to protect the Zhou Guang World," Zhou Guang recounted faithfully. 'So that is how it is,' Lu Changsheng thought. A grudge of irreconcilable enmity. To Saint Black Flame, Saint Zhou Guang had attempted to sever his path of cultivation. How could he not harbor deep hatred? At present, Saint Black Flame could do nothing to Zhou Guang or the Zhou Guang World. But once Zhou Guang died? His opportunity would arrive! No wonder Saint Zhou Guang was willing to pay any price to find an expert capable of shielding his world; otherwise, the Zhou Guang World would surely be annihilated by Saint Black Flame. Lu Changsheng conducted a brief inquiry into Saint Black Flame. The information provided by Zisang set his mind at ease. The opponent was indeed a chaos lifeform of one life leap, and nothing more. He possessed no particularly formidable background; had he possessed one, he would not have remained at a stalemate with Zhou Guang for so many years without ever managing to overpower him. These terms were acceptable to Lu Changsheng. With that in mind, Lu Changsheng stated plainly, "I agree! When your life limit arrives, I shall naturally protect the Zhou Guang World!" Upon hearing this, Zhou Guang was overjoyed. "Wonderful! Fellow Daoist Lu, please make a trip to the Zhou Guang World as soon as possible. My time is running short..." With his life limit fast approaching, no one could tell how much longer Zhou Guang could hold on. Lu Changsheng nodded, after which Zhou Guang departed from the Same Boat Token. Lu Changsheng met with Chen Yuan, Hengyu, and the others once more. "Fellow Daoist Lu, how did it go?" Hengyu asked. "We have reached an agreement. I will make a trip to the Zhou Guang World as soon as possible." "Wonderful!" Hengyu burst into laughter. He understood Zhou Guang's circumstances intimately. Now that a protector had finally been found for the Zhou Guang World, his friend could pass away in peace even when his limit arrived. Chen Yuan also stepped forward and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Lu." Clearly, since Lu Changsheng had agreed, he had undoubtedly obtained immense benefits—well worthy of congratulations. "This was all thanks to Fellow Daoist Chen Yuan. Had you not invited me to join the Same Boat Society, how could I have secured Grandmist Qi so swiftly? I owe you a favor," Lu Changsheng said to Chen Yuan. A broad smile spread across Chen Yuan's face. He had bustled about and curried favor without asking for any cultivation resources. What had been his goal all along? Precisely these words from Lu Changsheng! With this statement, Chen Yuan was thoroughly satisfied. A favor from Lu Changsheng was by no means easy to obtain; keeping it in reserve now might prove of immense value in the future. Lu Changsheng also departed from the Same Boat Token. He instructed Zisang to retrieve the navigational chart for the Zhou Guang World. It was not situated within the Black Light Realm, but it was very close, barely within the span of a single regional domain. For Zisang, utilizing the Black Light Pagoda to traverse directly to the Zhou Guang World presented no difficulty at all. Such a short distance pleased Lu Changsheng as well. In the future, should any trouble befall the Zhou Guang World, he would be able to arrive at the first possible moment, ensuring effective protection. "I should go take a look first." Lu Changsheng dared not delay. Zhou Guang's life limit could arrive at any moment now. To avoid complications, Lu Changsheng activated the Black Light Pagoda at once. *Whoosh.* Lu Changsheng's Black Light Pagoda emerged once more, having traversed through the void to the vicinity of the Zhou Guang World. Shortly after, Lu Changsheng entered the world and located Zhou Guang without delay. *Swish.* Arriving at Zhou Guang's grand hall, Lu Changsheng laid eyes upon him. At this moment, Zhou Guang was indeed visibly different from typical chaos lifeforms. His physical body remained extraordinarily powerful, radiating a terrifying aura. Yet he seemed faintly incapable of controlling that physical might. Moreover, his mind was gradually falling into stillness; one look revealed an unmistakable air of decay and decline, much like an aged mortal in the mundane world. These were the telltale signs of a mind nearing complete dead silence. Lu Changsheng reflected upon himself. His cultivation system from the Heaven Realm was somewhat unique, placing immense emphasis on the mind. He had even achieved an immortal mind. Yet could a mind truly be immortal? A so-called immortal mind merely meant that one's mind was exceptionally resilient, capable of enduring for an extraordinarily long time without mishap or slipping into dead silence. That was certainly an advantage. Nevertheless, the mind would ultimately face extinction; it could only hold out for longer. The only true remedy was continual cultivation. Every life leap, while seemingly a transformation of the physical vessel, in truth also elevated the mind. The mind and the flesh complemented each other; neither could exist in isolation. As long as one underwent successive life leaps, the mind would naturally remain active rather than succumbing to total extinction. However, if one failed to achieve a life leap over an extended period, the extinction of the mind was merely a matter of time. Thus, across the vast chaos, there was no precise lifespan ascribed to chaos lifeforms. It was entirely because each individual's mind was different: some possessed formidable minds, while others had weaker ones. The strength of the mind made lifespan difficult to determine. Yet whether strong or weak, the mind would inevitably face extinction. Only through successive life leaps, ultimately culminating in becoming a source lifeform—where mind and flesh merged completely into one—could lifespan become truly boundless. Of course, as to whether source lifeforms truly possessed infinite lifespan, Lu Changsheng had only heard rumors; only a true source lifeform would know for certain. Lu Changsheng himself did not care about lifespan in the slightest—at least not for now. He was far too young, nowhere near exhausting even a single epoch. There was simply no need for him to fret over lifespan. Zhou Guang, however, did not have that luxury. He had reached the threshold of mental extinction; his mind could fall silent at any moment. "Fellow Daoist Lu, you have arrived." Zhou Guang lifted his head and looked at Lu Changsheng. What a young, vibrant mind! Zhou Guang could not help but feel envious. Alas, his own mind had already become a pool of stagnant water. Nothing could stir ripples within it any longer as it steadily drifted toward extinction. "Fellow Daoist Zhou Guang," Lu Changsheng acknowledged with a nod. Zhou Guang did not waste words. He tossed a spatial treasure directly toward him. "Everything Fellow Daoist Lu desires is within. Not only the thirteen portions of cultivation resources, but also numerous other treasures and secondary-tier cultivation resources—all are yours. "As for some chaos supreme treasures and the like, those shall be left to the Zhou Guang World. In any case, now that you possess the Black Light Pagoda, such ordinary chaos supreme treasures are hardly worth mentioning to you." Saint Zhou Guang spoke with an air of listless exhaustion, devoid of vitality. A dignified chaos lifeform who had even achieved a single life leap had been reduced to such a state. Cultivation was arduous, even for chaos lifeforms. The only difference was perhaps that chaos lifeforms were stronger and lived longer. Yet when the final limit arrived, a chaos lifeform was no different from a mortal—both were ultimately powerless to escape death. Lu Changsheng swept his senses across the various supplies within the spatial treasure. He spotted the five wisps of Grandmist Qi and the eight cultivation resources of equivalent caliber right away, feeling thoroughly satisfied. Zhou Guang looked at Lu Changsheng and spoke slowly. "I must trouble Fellow Daoist Lu. Shall I have the juniors enter now to pay their respects?" "Very well." Lu Changsheng naturally understood Zhou Guang's intent. Having accepted the thirteen portions of cultivation resources, their agreement was sealed. Meeting the people of the Zhou Guang World was only fitting. Soon, cultivators at the god-ascension stage filed in one after another. When they saw Zhou Guang and Lu Changsheng, they were visibly taken aback. Zhou Guang had apparently given no prior notice, instructing them directly, "Hurry and pay your respects to Fellow Daoist Lu. After I pass, Fellow Daoist Lu shall shelter the Zhou Guang World, and you are all to obey his commands in all things." "Yes, Forefather." These individuals fell to their knees and performed full bows. Lu Changsheng accepted their bows with equanimity. After all, he would be safeguarding the Zhou Guang World for a long time to come; receiving their respects was only appropriate. "Fellow Daoist Zhou Guang, I shall not disturb you further. Should anything arise, you may notify me. With the Black Light Pagoda, I can reach the Zhou Guang World at a moment's notice." Having said this, Lu Changsheng flickered and traversed away into the void. It was uncertain when Zhou Guang would be extinguished, but there should still be some time left. Lu Changsheng could use this interval to cultivate without haste. Upon returning to the Black Light Realm, he instructed Zisang immediately, "Zisang, post a notice at once. I wish to purchase eight wisps of Grandmist Qi, trading the eight cultivation resources provided by Zhou Guang in exchange." Following that, Lu Changsheng notified Chen Yuan as well, having him publish the trade notice within the Same Boat Society. These eight resources were of the same caliber as Grandmist Qi and could be exchanged one-for-one. Lu Changsheng naturally had no intention of letting them go to waste. Afterward, Lu Changsheng began attempting to refine the Grandmist Qi. One year, two years, three years, four years, five years! Five years slipped by in a flash. Lu Changsheng completely refined all five wisps of Grandmist Qi. He could feel an unmistakable enhancement in his physical body. He opened his status panel immediately to check his condition. Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: Top-tier comprehension World Master: 0 (Embryonic) Chaos Lifeform: 7% (Initial Formation) Sure enough, his progress as a chaos lifeform had reached 7%—a full increase of 5%. And that was within a mere five years! It was a tremendous improvement. However, there was also a problem. Five years had passed, yet none of his eight resources had been traded. In other words, he hadn't managed to exchange for even a single wisp of Grandmist Qi. This caused Lu Changsheng to frown. He knew Grandmist Qi was exceedingly rare, but no matter how rare it was, not all chaos lifeforms used it for cultivation. On the contrary, very few chaos lifeforms utilized Grandmist Qi. After five full years, it was bizarre that not a single trade had gone through. "Zisang, what is going on?" Lu Changsheng asked. "Master, this is normal. Although you possess eight portions of cultivation resources, the number of cultivators who happen to possess Grandmist Qi while also happening to need the specific resources you hold is very small. One can only wait slowly. "If Master is in urgent need of Grandmist Qi, you can exchange directly with the Black Light Pagoda mother matrix. However, the exchange price is somewhat higher; for every portion of cultivation resources exchanged, a ten percent fee is deducted," Zisang explained. "Ten percent?" Lu Changsheng sighed deeply. That price was quite steep. Yet what alternative did he have? Trading privately had yielded no results in five years. While private trades incurred no fees, waiting indefinitely without progress rendered the absence of fees meaningless. Exchanging with the Black Light Realm meant paying a ten percent fee—equivalent to handing over one portion of cultivation resources for every ten traded. It was an exceptionally steep cost. Lu Changsheng finally understood how the Black Light Realm was capable of rewarding high-ranking chaos lifeforms with cultivation resources: it relied on the massive trading platform it had established to rake in vast quantities of wealth. As for other individuals or factions seeking to establish a similar trading platform, it was far from easy. One or two source lifeforms likely could not guarantee absolute security; after all, such an enormous hoard of cultivation resources was enough to drive even source lifeforms mad. Who would frequent a trading platform that could not guarantee security? Yet the Black Light Realm was different. The realm itself was the Black Light Pagoda, which even source lifeforms could not breach. Consequently, it was completely secure, and over time, it naturally became the most reliable trading platform. "Never mind. Let us conduct the exchange through the Black Light Realm." Lu Changsheng sold the eight portions of cultivation resources to the Black Light Realm, obtaining eight hundred Black Light coins—equivalent to selling each portion for one hundred coins. These Black Light coins could be used to purchase various items within the Black Light Realm. For example, a single wisp of Grandmist Qi cost one hundred coins, but with the transaction fee, it came to one hundred ten coins. Selling items incurred no fee; only purchasing required a ten percent surcharge, and that applied only to precious items such as cultivation resources, while cheaper goods carried no fee at all. With just a rough calculation, Lu Changsheng could see how immensely profitable the Black Light Realm was. No wonder it had been able to nurture eleven source lifeforms. In terms of sheer wealth, it was probably among the richest powers in the entire chaos. "Purchase seven wisps of Grandmist Qi." Gritting his teeth, Lu Changsheng bought seven wisps. Of his eight hundred Black Light coins, only thirty remained. "Continue." Lu Changsheng did not pause. Spending another seven years, he refined the seven wisps of Grandmist Qi. His physical body's progress surged by another 7%, now reaching 14%. "Fourteen percent progress... I wonder what my ranking is now?" Lu Changsheng felt a trace of anticipation. "Zisang, apply for a reranking immediately." "Yes, Master." Shortly after, Zisang connected to the Black Light Pagoda mother matrix, and its power enveloped Lu Changsheng. "Confirm application for reranking?" "Confirmed." As Lu Changsheng's words fell, a wave of power swept through his entire body. "Master, your ranking has risen! You are currently ranked eighty-eight thousand, three hundred sixtieth. Last time, you were over ninety thousand!" Zisang reported delightedly. How much time had passed? A mere dozen years or so, yet his ranking had climbed by so much! Even so, he had still not cracked the top ten thousand. To reach the top ten thousand, he would likely need to achieve a life leap. And below the top ten thousand, there were virtually no tangible benefits; only by reaching the top ten thousand could one receive a portion of cultivation resources every ten thousand years. He still needed to obtain more Grandmist Qi to complete a life leap as quickly as possible. Just as Lu Changsheng was pondering how to acquire more Grandmist Qi, he received a transmission from Zhou Guang through the Same Boat Token. "Fellow Daoist Lu, I am about to be extinguished. Please make a trip..." Lu Changsheng's gaze narrowed slightly. Extinguished so soon? Still, since he had given his word to Zhou Guang, he naturally had to go. *Swish.* Traversing the chaos, Lu Changsheng arrived at the Zhou Guang World almost instantaneously. He saw Zhou Guang once more. At this moment, a crowd of god-ascension cultivators stood before him, each wearing an expression of deep sorrow. Regardless of the circumstances, the extinction of Saint Zhou Guang was a devastating blow to the Zhou Guang World. When Zhou Guang saw Lu Changsheng arrive, a faint smile finally appeared on his face. "Fellow Daoist Lu, the Zhou Guang World is in your hands from now on." With those final words, Zhou Guang's mind was completely extinguished, stripped of every last trace of vitality. With the extinction of his mind, Saint Zhou Guang's physical body could no longer sustain itself. The immense physical might began to gradually collapse. As his body broke down, the entire Zhou Guang World trembled. After all, the level of a chaos lifeform was effectively equivalent to that of a chaos world. Zhou Guang's choice to face extinction within his world was so that his collapsing physical form would gradually merge into the Zhou Guang World itself. To the world, this bestowed astronomical benefits. How powerful was the body of a chaos lifeform? As it collapsed and was steadily absorbed, the entire Zhou Guang World would undergo a world-shaking transformation, its energy level surging in an instant. Furthermore, for countless years to come, natural treasures within the world would multiply dramatically, and many geniuses would be born. This was a chaos lifeform's final gift. A chaos lifeform's physical body was a boundless treasure trove. To undergo extinction within a chaos world was an immense tonic for that world; had he dissolved into the boundless chaos instead, it would scarcely have caused a ripple. "Forefather..." Wails of grief rang out. While Zhou Guang's death was a great boon to the world itself, to these god-ascension cultivators, it was as though the heavens had collapsed. For a chaos world, only the presence of a chaos lifeform could guarantee prosperity and safety. Once the chaos lifeform died, no matter how prosperous the world was, it would inevitably decline until a new chaos lifeform was born. Yet the Zhou Guang World was fortunate. Though Zhou Guang had fallen, Lu Changsheng had stepped in to protect them. Just as the numerous cultivators of the Zhou Guang World were weeping, an overwhelming, terrifying pressure suddenly engulfed the entire world! "Hahaha! Zhou Guang, you old ghost, you are finally dead! I have waited so long, and this day has finally come! Everyone in the Zhou Guang Realm shall die!" Accompanying this horrific pressure was a voice brimming with wild, ecstatic delight. Hearing this voice, the god-ascension cultivators within the world turned deathly pale. "He has come... he truly has come!" "It is Saint Black Flame! He was indeed watching the Zhou Guang Realm all along. The moment Forefather died, he could not wait to strike!" "After all, it is the grudge of a severed Dao path—it cannot be resolved." "Saint Lu..." The cultivators of the Zhou Guang Realm could only fix their gazes on Lu Changsheng now, hoping he would honor his pledge and protect their realm. Lu Changsheng narrowed his eyes slightly. No wonder Saint Zhou Guang had been willing to pay any price to secure his protection. This Saint Black Flame truly had not wished to wait a single moment, charging straight to their doorstep. Lu Changsheng took a step forward. The pressure of a chaos lifeform erupted from him like an overwhelming tide, surging toward Saint Black Flame. *Boom!* The two terrifying pressures clashed against one another, neither yielding an inch. "Hmm?" "No aura of a life leap? Merely a newborn chaos lifeform?" "A newborn chaos lifeform whose pressure can rival this seat?" Saint Black Flame's eyes flashed with shock. He knew Zhou Guang would surely have left behind contingencies, and it seemed this chaos lifeform before him was precisely that. Yet without having undergone a life leap, he could match Black Flame's pressure? Could he fight across tiers? That was terrifying. To still be capable of fighting above one's tier after becoming a chaos lifeform meant he belonged to the most elite caliber of geniuses, even within the Black Light Realm. "Who exactly are you?" Saint Black Flame demanded. "Lu Changsheng of the Black Light Realm." Lu Changsheng walked toward Saint Black Flame step by step. He did not deploy the Black Light Pagoda, relying purely on his own chaos lifeform strength. Having attained the state of a chaos lifeform through the Myriad Origins Fundamental Art, hundreds of millions of flesh particles within his body had transformed in unison, giving him a foundation thousands or tens of thousands of times more profound than cultivators of the same rank. Even back in the god-ascension stage, he had been capable of slaying a chaos lifeform. How much more so now? Facing a chaos lifeform of merely one life leap, there was no need to resort to the Black Light Pagoda. "Zhou Guang and I share the grudge of a severed Dao path—an enmity never to rest until death. Does Fellow Daoist Lu truly intend to take up Zhou Guang's karma and make an enemy of this seat?" Saint Black Flame's tone turned chillingly cold, completely dropping any pretense of courtesy. After all, a severed Dao path was an irreconcilable feud; if Lu Changsheng truly assumed this karma, it would mean a fight to the death with him as well. "Before Fellow Daoist Zhou Guang was extinguished, he entrusted the Zhou Guang Realm to my care. If Fellow Daoist Black Flame withdraws, we may coexist in peace. But if you insist on destroying the Zhou Guang Realm, I can only exchange moves with you." Lu Changsheng stood quietly in the void with his hands clasped behind his back. Though his tone was calm, it was neither servile nor overbearing, carrying an unmistakable, powerful confidence. He harbored not the slightest fear of Saint Black Flame. For a moment, the void fell utterly silent, yet the suffocating tension felt as though it had frozen solid.