The Skyward Sword Sect's arena was alive with the hum of combat. Lei Chen stood tall, his expression calm yet resolute. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the dirt-streaked fighting grounds.opposite him is a middle-aged disciple with average skill,who swung his sword in a clumsy arc. Sweat beaded on his forehead, his breath coming in heavy bursts. He was nothing compared to Lei Chen, who moved with an elegance that was almost otherworldly, each step in tune with the sword, each movement as natural as breathing.
The battle had been short, as expected. Lei Chen's swordsmanship was flawless. With a sharp flick of his wrist, his opponent's sword flew from his hands, spinning through the air like a bird escaping its cage. The crowd gasped in unison, their eyes wide with awe.
Lei Chen's gaze was unblinking as he watched the man fall to the ground, his pride shattered along with his weapon. He turned to face the onlookers. Their applause came, but it was hollow. He could feel it in their eyes envy, jealousy, admiration tinged with resentment.
"Lei Chen!" Elder Li's voice cut through the murmur of the crowd, drawing all attention. The elderly man was sitting at the elevated seats, his hands folded in front of him, his robe flowing in the wind. "You've mastered the Sword-Drawing Technique with an elegance that few can match."
The words were meant to praise, but Lei Chen heard the undertone the expectation in the elder's voice. He had heard such words countless times before, but today they rang hollow. The applause felt like a cage of gilded bars, trapping him in a position he neither desired nor found fulfilling.
"Thank you, Elder," Lei Chen replied, his voice steady. But internally, the frustration built like a storm. He was strong, yes, perhaps even the strongest among the outer disciples. But strength alone wasn't enough. He craved something more. He needed to rise above this above the sect, above the petty rivalries, above the eyes that stared at him like a piece of art to be dissected.
As the crowd dispersed, Lei Chen slowly made his way toward the outer disciple's quarters. His robes fluttered behind him, the soft rustling drowned by the pounding of his heartbeat.
In the distance, Zhao Jian a senior disciples watched from the shadow of the courtyard gates. His dark eyes followed Lei Chen's every step, his expression twisting into a sneer. Lei Chen could feel the weight of his gaze but paid him no mind. Zhao Jian was just another obstacle in his path, a stepping stone for him to rise above.
"You think you're the best?" Zhao Jian's voice called out as Lei Chen passed him. "You may be good with your sword, but that doesn't mean you'll rise any higher than the other dogs in the outer sect."
Lei Chen's eyes narrowed, but he didn't break his stride. He had heard such insults before jealous words from those too afraid to face the truth. They all saw him as a threat, but none could understand the hunger that drove him forward. He clenched his fists, the desire to prove himself burning within him.
"I'll show you," Lei Chen muttered under his breath.
Later that evening, after the day's training had concluded, Lei Chen found himself summoned to the Sect Leader's chambers. The grand hall was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from the flickering lanterns hanging from the stone pillars. The air was thick with tension, as though the very walls of the sect were whispering of his fate.
At the far end of the room, Sect Leader Wei sat on his elevated throne, his eyes gleaming with cold authority. The elderly man's robes were embroidered with intricate designs, symbols of his high rank. Despite his age, there was a sharpness to his gaze, a calculating aura that could freeze anyone in their tracks.
"Lei Chen," Sect Leader Wei said, his voice echoing through the silent hall, "You have shown exceptional skill in combat, a talent that is beyond your years. Yet…"
The word 'yet' hung heavily in the air. Lei Chen stood still, waiting for the inevitable blow. He had known this moment would come. The elders and leaders of the sect had always looked at him with a mixture of admiration and suspicion. His rise had been too fast, too meteoric. It was never just about his skill with the sword. They feared what he could become.
"Yet, you have grown too proud," Sect Leader Wei continued. "Your ambition has outstripped your loyalty to the sect. There are rumors... rumors of your dealings with outside forces. You have been seen speaking with cultivators from other sects. Tell me, Lei Chen, is this true?"
A chill ran down Lei Chen's spine. He had been cautious, never revealing his ambitions, never showing his true nature to anyone in the sect. Yet, someone had seen through his facade.
"I have done nothing disloyal," Lei Chen responded, his voice firm, though his heart hammered in his chest. "I seek only to become stronger."
Sect Leader Wei's lips curled into a smile, but it wasn't one of kindness. It was a smile of calculated cruelty. "Strength, you say? Perhaps that is true. But there are those who believe you seek power at any cost, even if it means betraying the sect that nurtured you. And that, my child, cannot be allowed."
Before Lei Chen could respond, the doors to the hall burst open. A figure clad in dark robes stepped forward,Zhao Jian. He wore an expression of triumph, his eyes gleaming with malicious delight.
"I've gathered evidence," Zhao Jian said, his voice oozing with venom. "i've found out that Lei Chen has been conspiring against the sect. I've seen him meeting with people from outside, and there are rumors that he plans to steal the sect's treasure."
Lei Chen's eyes widened in disbelief. The weight of the accusations was heavy, but they were lies, lies from a man who feared his rise. Yet, as Zhao Jian presented the "evidence," Lei Chen realized that there was nothing he could do to refute it. The sect had already made its decision.
Sect Leader Wei looked down at him with disdain. "You are hereby expelled from the Skyward Sword Sect. Your cultivation will be crippled, and you will be exiled to the Abyssal Forest."
The gates of the sect were thrown open, and Lei Chen was escorted out by two stern-faced elders. The cold night air bit at his skin, but it wasn't the chill that froze his heart. It was the realization that everything he had worked for everything he had fought for was slipping through his fingers.
As the massive gates of the sect closed behind him, Lei Chen turned to face the Abyssal Forest, a place of dark legends and untold dangers. His body had been stripped of its strength, but his spirit remained unbroken.
"I will return," Lei Chen whispered to himself, his voice carrying on the wind. "And when I do... I will show them all what true power is."