"Before becoming my disciples, you all must understand something critical," I began, my voice ringing through the training hall. "Cultivation does not make you strong! It's merely a tool, as mundane and inert as a piece of wood. A sword does not make you strong either! It's a foolish thing to rely on. If you wield a sword and it gives you the illusion of strength, know this: you are still a coward in your heart. If you wish to be strong, the true strength must come from a strong, unyielding heart."