The Sword Sect is governed by the Sword Emperor, and with the formidable individual strength of the sword cultivators, it appears to be unparalleled in its prestige. However, there are indeed some hidden worries, especially when facing the Taoist School.
The emergence of sword cultivators is nothing more than an evolution of the martial artists from the ancient times, along with the legacies left by certain powerful individuals skilled in the Sword Path from the original Taoist School, Buddhism School, Confucianism, and Demonic Gate.
Therefore, at certain levels, it's actually appropriate to consider the Sword Path as derivative inheritances belonging to the factions of these groups, and could be classified among them. However, through these years of development, sword cultivators have indeed become independent.