Ren woke up early the next morning, feeling a sense of excitement as he got dressed and headed out to the training grounds. Today was the day he would finally show everyone what he was capable of.
As he arrived at the training grounds, he noticed a large crowd gathered around one of the sparring rings. Curious, Ren pushed his way through the throng of disciples to see what was going on.
In the ring, he saw two powerful disciples, both of them exuding an aura of strength and power. They were locked in a fierce battle, their swords clashing with such force that sparks flew with every blow.
Ren watched in awe as the two warriors continued their dance, each one looking for an opening to strike. He had never seen such skill and power before, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of envy.
But then he noticed something strange. One of the warriors, a tall and muscular man, was starting to tire. His attacks were becoming slower and less precise, and Ren could see the sweat pouring down his face.
The other warrior, a smaller and more agile fighter, saw his opening and struck with lightning speed. The larger warrior stumbled backwards, his sword dropping from his hand as he fell to the ground.
The crowd erupted into cheers as the smaller warrior stepped forward, his sword pointed at the defeated man's throat. Ren couldn't help but feel a sense of fear as he watched the victor bask in his glory.
Suddenly, a voice boomed out from the sidelines. "Enough! This fight is over."
Ren turned to see the Sword Saint himself, watching the scene with a stern expression. The victor quickly sheathed his sword and stepped back, bowing his head in respect.
The Sword Saint turned to the defeated warrior, who was still lying on the ground, panting heavily. "You fought well, but you still have much to learn. You relied too much on your strength, and not enough on your skill."
The defeated warrior nodded, looking ashamed. "Yes, Master. I will work harder."
The Sword Saint turned to the crowd, his eyes scanning over the gathered disciples. "Remember, my disciples. True strength comes not from the size of your muscles, but from the skill and technique that you possess."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving the crowd to disperse. Ren watched as the defeated warrior picked himself up off the ground and limped away, his head held low.
As the crowd cleared, Ren noticed a group of disciples gathered around a young woman, who was standing in the center of the ring. She was slender and petite, with long black hair that flowed down her back.
Ren recognized her as one of the more talented disciples in the school, a woman who was known for her speed and agility. But as he watched, he noticed something strange.
The woman was surrounded by a shimmering aura, one that seemed to be pulsing with energy. Ren blinked, rubbing his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things.
But as he looked closer, he realized that the aura was real. It was a manifestation of the woman's inner strength, a sign that she had reached a level of power that few others had achieved.
Ren felt a sense of awe wash over him as he watched the woman move with lightning speed, her movements so fast that they were almost a blur. He had never seen anyone move like that before, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of envy.
But then something strange happened. The woman turned to him, her eyes locking onto his. Ren felt a jolt of electricity run through his body, and he realized with a shock that the shimmering aura around her had grown stronger.
The woman smiled at him, and Ren felt his heart skip a beat. "You," she said, "I've never seen you around here before. Are you new?"
Ren nodded, feeling a bit shy around her. "Yes, I just started at the school a few days ago."
The woman's smile widened. "Well then, welcome! I'm Mei, and I'm one of the senior disciples here."
Ren felt a rush of excitement at the thought of being welcomed by someone as skilled as Mei. "Thank you! I'm Ren, and I'm hoping to become a strong cultivator someday."
Mei's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Oh, you want to be strong, do you? Well then, you've come to the right place."
Ren felt a sense of determination well up inside him. He had always been weak and bullied, but now he was in a place where strength was valued above all else. He was determined to become strong, no matter what it took.
Mei seemed to sense his determination, and she smiled at him. "I can see that you have potential, Ren. But potential alone won't get you very far. You'll need to work hard, and you'll need to learn to tap into your inner strength."
Ren nodded, feeling a sense of excitement building within him. He was ready to learn, ready to work hard, and ready to become strong.
As the day wore on, Ren watched as Mei and some of the other senior disciples demonstrated their skills. He watched in awe as they moved with lightning speed, their attacks so precise that they seemed to be one with their weapons.
But then, something strange happened. Mei turned to him, her eyes locking onto his once again. This time, however, he felt a strange sensation in his body.
It was like a wave of energy, coursing through his veins and setting every nerve on fire. He felt his body start to tremble, and he looked down to see that his hands were glowing with a strange, pulsing light.
Mei's eyes widened in surprise. "What? How is this possible?"
Ren looked up at her, his eyes wide with wonder. "What's happening to me?"
Mei looked at him with a mixture of awe and confusion. "I don't know, Ren. I've never seen anything like this before. It's like...like your inner strength is awakening."
Ren felt a sense of excitement building within him. He had always been weak and bullied, but now it seemed that he was starting to tap into a power that he had never known existed.
As the day wore on, Ren practiced and trained with newfound vigor. He felt a sense of purpose now, a drive to become stronger and to tap into the hidden strength that lay within him.
And as he trained, he began to notice something strange. He was able to move faster, strike harder, and dodge with greater agility than he ever had before. It was like a new world had opened up to him, and he was eager to explore every inch of it.
As the sun began to set and the other disciples headed back to their dorms, Ren lingered behind, practicing his moves and feeling the power surging through his body.
He knew that he had a long way to go before he could be considered a true cultivator, but he also knew that he was on the right path. With each passing day, he was getting stronger, and he was determined to become the greatest cultivator that the school had ever seen.