For a moment, nothing seemed to happen.
There was no bright flash.
No loud explosion.
Not even a visible wave of energy spreading through the chamber.
But Holden immediately felt the difference.
The air around him seemed unusually still.
The faint warmth from the Eclipse-Sun Sword began fading, and the crimson flames along its edge grew smaller.
Within seconds, they disappeared completely.
The chamber fell into near darkness.
Only the weak light from a few ordinary lamps built into the walls remained.
Holden looked down at his sword.
The blade was still there.
Its dark metal surface remained intact, but the black and crimson flames that usually surrounded it were gone.
He tried sending a small amount of energy into the weapon.
Nothing happened.
The energy remained inside his body, refusing to flow into the sword.
Holden tried again.
The result was the same.
His cultivation hadn't disappeared.
He could still feel the enormous power contained within his body.
