"It's not that the sects are violent and aggressive," Wu Ling answered. "It's that they attract people who tend to be so, and they exacerbate some of the worst tendencies in some of the worst people. That's part of why the hills are crawling with bandits," he added.
"Silver Sword City draws cultivators from all over the world," Su Xiang added. "They have their own ideas of right and wrong, and sometimes, people aren't able to adapt or fit into the refined atmosphere of the city. Some people cling to notions that as long as their strength is great enough, they can do as they please."
"Others don't adhere to the rules about sheltering mortals from danger," she continued. "Or they refuse to refrain from using their cultivation to bully those of lesser cultivation. They may join a sect for a time, but eventually, their actions cause them to be cast out."