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At the Zi hour (midnight), Shaoyang Qi (Ministerial Fire Qi) is born within Yin. At this time, one should stretch and extend the limbs, performing twisting and pulling movements.

The *Hunyuan Jing* (Classic of Primordial Unity) states: During the Xu, Hai, and Zi hours, Yin Qi generates, and humans enter sleep. Once asleep, Qi stagnates in the hundred joints. Practitioners of health preservation believe that sleeping while curled up is preferable, and waking up with full extension is essential. Through twisting and pulling movements, one must ensure that Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) and Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) circulate throughout the body.

The *Taoqi Jue* (Method for Purging Qi) states: Close your eyes and look upward, placing both hands between the breasts. Stand with knees slightly bent to the side, lift the waist and back, and inflate the Qi in the Qihai (Sea of Qi/Dantian). Cause the internal and external Qi to rotate, then exhale with a "He" sound to expel it. Do not let the sound be heard by the ears. Repeat nine or eighteen times. For those wishing to ingest true Qi, one must first purge and rotate the stale Qi, specifically allowing old food to digest. Thus, only after all turbid Qi has been expelled can one begin to regulate and ingest new Qi. Those who practice Qi ingestion may experience dry mouth and tongue upon waking; this indicates Heat in the Five Zang Organs. In such cases, open the mouth wide and gently exhale with "He" dozens of times until saliva flows from the throat, indicating that Heat has subsided and the Five Zang Organs have cooled.

Jump up vigorously, sit upright, cross both hands behind the neck, look upward, raise the head, and sway left and right, creating resistance between the neck and the hands. Next, reach down to grasp the feet, hold the breath slightly, and draw in the Qi of Taichong (LR3).
The two Taichong acupoints are located two cun posterior to the base of the big toe, in the depression between the bones.

Pull back with the left hand as if drawing a bow, and do the same with the right hand.
The *Da Dong Zhen Jing* (Great Void True Classic), Massage Chapter, states: Cross both hands and reach them to cover the back of the neck. Look upward with the face raised, raise the arms so that the neck resists the hands. Perform this three or four times. This harmonizes the spirit and unblocks blood circulation, preventing Wind pathogens from entering. If practiced consistently over a long period, illness will not occur. Afterward, bend and move the body, extend the limbs to their limits, perform backward arching and lateral pulling, and shake all the joints. Perform each movement three times. The *Hua Tuo Biography* states: The human body requires physical activity, but one should not exert oneself to the point of exhaustion. Constant movement allows Yuan Qi (Original Qi) to flow freely through the vessels and blood. A door hinge does not rot because it is used often; running water does not become foul because it flows constantly; the human body is the same. The Dao Yin (Guiding and Pulling) exercises of the Perfected Ones are derived from these principles. The *Yuan Tong Jing* states: Yuan Qi is difficult to accumulate but easy to dissipate; joints are easily closed but difficult to unblock. Therefore, those who cultivate life prioritize Dao Yin.

One cun inward from the glabella is called Mingtang (Bright Hall); three cun deep is called Dongfang (Cave Chamber); entering three cun further upward is the Upper Dantian Niwan Palace; the Middle Dantian is called Jianggong (Crimson Palace); and the Lower Dantian is called Qigong (Qi Palace). Each of these locations houses a spiritual entity, hence they are referred to as Shen Gong (Palace of Spirits).