*As the sun's last glow starts to sink beyond the peaks of the Celestial Breeze Mountains, Elder Liu Jiang sighs and withdraws her gaze from the horizon.*

"Seventh elder, the remaining disciples have arrived. It's time for the final test," *an elderly man says to her calmly as he strokes a long white wisp of beard at his chin.*

"Thank you, Old Mo. I'll see to them now." *She smiles at him, hiding the melancholy in her eyes as best she can. She tucks a strand of black hair that's come loose from her bun behind her ear and walks down a flight of stone steps towards the assembled crowd of tired but eager youths below.*

*Whispers run through the crowd as she descends. A swarthy boy on your left snickers and whispers to his companion,* "That's the 7th elder, Liu Jiang. She may be getting older, but her figure sure hasn't suffered, has it?"

*With a low chuckle, the friend smirks and nods in agreement,* "They say old ginger is more spicy, right? I wouldn't mind having a taste myself."

*You ignore the comments for now and focus on the woman in question. It's undeniable that their words, while certainly lecherous, hold truth. As she descends the steps, her figure leaves nothing wanting, and her face, while having lost its once youthful appearance, is still quite beautiful. Yet... beyond the elegant beauty of her outward appearance, what you find most striking is the subtle hint of sorrow that seems to hide in the corners of her cherry-red smile. There's a look in her eyes, as she sweeps them across the hopefuls around you, that you sense hides a depth of feeling these fools next to you could never grasp with a dozen lifetimes.*

*When she finally stops at the foot of the stairs, her green robes flutter in the wind as she clasps her hands and addresses your group.*

"Congratulations. You have all done very well to make it this far." She smiles warmly at your group. "To pass the previous tests required strength, talent, willpower, and courage. All of these traits are vital to walking far along the Dao. However, these alone will not see you to the very peak." *She pauses for a moment as her smile fades.*

"No, there are many other factors that will influence your pursuit of enlightenment. Perhaps one of the most important is the ability to discern truth from falsehood." *With a wave of her hand, dozens of talisman papers begin to fly out from her sleeves and surround your group. As they swirl around you, suddenly, all the individuals at your sides begin to disappear, as does the very courtyard you stand on. Suddenly, you find yourself standing in a desert, with endless dunes of sand stretching as far as the eye can see.*

*Elder Liu Jiang's voice emanates from the air around you even as a wave of heat begins to overwhelm your senses.* "If you wish to become a disciple of the Wind-Crane sect, you must not only possess the courage and strength to overcome external foes..." *there is a strange pause in her voice for a moment,* "but you must also have the wisdom and insight to conquer your own internal fears and desires. Break free from the shackles of my Seven Desires Heart-sealing Talisman Barrier, and you will become a disciple of the Wind-Crane sect." *With that, the voice disappears, and the sand around you stirs as a fierce wind begins to whip around you.*