《西山记》曰∶以气炼形,形化气而体骨轻健,入水不溺,蹈火不热。其大平龙虎交媾而成
大药,火候无差,以变金丹。若以神炼气,气炼成神,非在于阳交阴会,其在于抽铅添汞。致二八
之阴消,换骨炼形,使九三之阳长,三百日仙胎完而真气生,不可再采药也。肘后飞金晶,
自肾后尾闾穴升之而到夹脊,自夹脊双关升之而至上宫。不止于肾气补脑,而午后降真火以炼丹药,
致阴尽阳纯也。如是子时肾气方生,静室清心,闭目正坐,敛身而肾气自聚,微微升身,偃胸直腰,
先到夹脊,次到上宫。自子丑至辰巳,定一百日一撞三关。而又积心之真火,锻炼下元内丹。阴固阳
凝,气自纷纭。是日气中有气,前升入顶,后起入脑,前后俱起。但升身勿动,以焚身逐阴鬼。
一烧增一气,十烧增一神,百烧延万年,千烧出尘世。古先上圣,恐火大过而又有浇灌之法也。始
以采药,是玉液还丹。次以肘后金晶入脑,自上田复入下田。是金液还丹之法也。以鼓两颊而嘘
咽纳气是也。丹
就而真气生,以真气炼五脏之气。《九仙经》云∶炼神剑金槌,本以五脏之气。《中黄经》云∶闭之
千息,以炼五脏。五脏各出本色,气聚而上以朝元。三阳合而升之入顶,是则不出五脏而无修炼之时,又
无锻炼之法也。西山有炼气之法,妙且玄矣。采药进火,三百日大药成。还丹炼形,二百日真气满。
大运不必随天,但可以小运应日,闭气炼气。如甲乙日炼肝气,甲日肝气先进于艮卦,闭息至巽卦
为期,如青气现,运而在顶。乙日养肝气,与彼法同,凡起火识五行生克也。丙丁日炼心气,丙日
心气先进于巽卦,闭息至坤卦为期,如赤气现,运而在顶。丁日养心气,凡起火识五行生克也。戊己
日炼脾气,先进于春,则辰时一时闭息,夏则未时闭息,秋则戌时闭息,冬则丑时闭息,凡起火识五
行生克也。庚辛日炼肺气,庚日肺气先进于坤卦,闭息至乾卦为期,如白气现,运而在顶。辛日养
肺气,凡起火识五行生克也,壬癸日炼肾气,壬日肾气先进于乾卦,闭息至艮卦为期,如黑气现,运
而在顶。癸日养肾气,凡起火识五行生克也。十日一翻,炼遍五脏。凡二百五十日,各炼二十五日数。
真气自聚,开河车,搬五彩之物,笙簧女乐车马旌旗,各分方号队阵,喜笑熙熙,上朝帝阙,共入
天宫。或而阴鬼作梗,邪魔为障。但于静室中,闭目冥心,升身正坐,三昧真火自起,一烧而魔
鬼消散。火过清凉,了无一物。前件侍从歌乐,转加繁盛。终日默坐,内观明达,并无厌足,
奇验异证,不可备录。既觉身形常似飞腾,意气飘扬,难以制御。常用调神出壳,乃超凡入圣之时也。
According to the *Record of Xishan*: By refining the form with Qi (vital energy), the form transforms into Qi, making the body and bones light and vigorous; one can enter water without drowning and tread on fire without burning. The key lies in the interaction of the Dragon and Tiger (symbolizing Yin and Yang essences) to form the "Great Medicine" (Da Yao). With precise control of the fire phases (Huo Hou), this transforms into the Golden Elixir (Jin Dan). If one refines Qi with Shen (Spirit), and Qi transforms into Shen, this does not rely on the intersection of Yang and Yin, but rather on "extracting Lead and adding Mercury" (a metaphor for regulating internal Yin-Yang balance). This causes the Yin of "Er Ba" (16 years old/Yin phase) to diminish, changing the bones and refining the form, while causing the Yang of "Jiu San" to grow. After three hundred days, the Immortal Fetus is complete and True Qi arises; at this point, no further gathering of medicine is needed.
The method of "Flying Metal Essence from Behind the Elbow" involves raising Qi from the Weilu acupoint behind the kidneys to the Jiashi acupoints; from the Shuangguan acupoints at Jiashi, it rises to the Shang Gong (Upper Palace/Niwang Dantian). This is not limited to supplementing the brain with Kidney Qi, but also involves descending True Fire in the afternoon to refine the elixir, resulting in the exhaustion of Yin and the purity of Yang. Thus, when Kidney Qi begins to generate at Zi hour, one should clear the mind in a quiet room, sit upright with eyes closed, gather the body so that Kidney Qi naturally accumulates, slightly raise the body, extend the chest and straighten the waist. The Qi first reaches Jiashi, then Shang Gong. From Zi to Si hours, within one hundred days, one completes "hitting the three passes" (penetrating three key points along the spine). Furthermore, by accumulating the True Fire of the Heart, one refines the Inner Elixir in the Lower Yuan. When Yin is solidified and Yang coagulated, Qi flows abundantly. At this stage, there is Qi within Qi; it ascends forward to the crown and rises backward into the brain, moving both front and back simultaneously. One must raise the body without shaking, using this to burn away the "Yin Ghosts." Each burning increases Qi by one unit; ten burnings increase Shen by one unit; a hundred burnings extend life by ten thousand years; a thousand burnings lead to transcendence of the mortal world. Ancient sages feared excessive heat, so they employed methods of "pouring water" (cooling/nourishing Yin).
Initially, the method of gathering medicine is called "Jade Fluid Returning to the Elixir." Subsequently, using the Metal Essence from behind the elbow to enter the brain, and returning from the Upper Dantian to the Lower Dantian, constitutes the method of "Metal Fluid Returning to the Elixir," achieved by puffing out the cheeks and swallowing breath to inhale Qi. Once the elixir is formed and True Qi arises, True Qi is used to refine the Qi of the Five Viscera. The *Nine Immortals Sutra* states: Refining the Divine Sword and Golden Hammer fundamentally relies on the Qi of the Five Viscera. The *Zhonghuang Sutra* states: Closing the breath for a thousand breaths refines the Five Viscera. Each viscera manifests its true color, and Qi gathers and ascends to pay homage to the Origin. The Three Yang merge and ascend to the crown. This implies that cultivation occurs within the Five Viscera without fixed times or specific drilling methods.
Xishan possesses methods of Qi refinement, which are profound and mysterious. Gathering medicine and advancing fire leads to the formation of the Great Medicine in three hundred days. Returning the elixir and refining the form fills True Qi in two hundred days. The Great Movement need not follow the Heavenly Dao, but the Small Movement can respond to daily cycles through breath retention and Qi refinement. For example, on Jia and Yi days, one refines Liver Qi. On Jia day, Liver Qi first enters the Gen trigram; breath retention continues until the Xun trigram as the deadline. If green Qi appears, it moves to the crown. On Yi day, one nourishes Liver Qi, following similar principles; whenever fire is initiated, one must understand the generation and restriction of the Five Elements. On Bing and Ding days, one refines Heart Qi. On Bing day, Heart Qi first enters the Xun trigram; breath retention continues until the Kun trigram. If red Qi appears, it moves to the crown. On Ding day, one nourishes Heart Qi, always recognizing the Five Elements' interactions. On Wu and Ji days, one refines Spleen Qi. In spring, retain breath during Chen hour for one period; in summer, Wei hour; in autumn, Xu hour; in winter, Chou hour; always recognizing the Five Elements' interactions. On Geng and Xin days, one refines Lung Qi. On Geng day, Lung Qi first enters the Kun trigram; breath retention continues until the Qian trigram. If white Qi appears, it moves to the crown. On Xin day, one nourishes Lung Qi. On Ren and Gui days, one refines Kidney Qi. On Ren day, Kidney Qi first enters the Qian trigram; breath retention continues until the Gen trigram. If black Qi appears, it moves to the crown. On Gui day, one nourishes Kidney Qi. Every ten days constitutes a cycle, refining all five viscera. Over two hundred and fifty days, each viscera is refined for twenty-five days.
True Qi naturally gathers, opening the He Che (River Cart/Internal Energy Channel), transporting colorful substances, musical instruments, female musicians, carriages, horses, banners, and flags, each assigned to directions and formations, laughing joyfully, ascending to the Imperial Palace, and entering the Heavenly Palace together. If Yin ghosts obstruct or evil demons block the path, one must sit quietly in a still room, close the eyes, calm the mind, raise the body, and sit upright. The Samadhi True Fire will naturally arise; one burning disperses the demons. After the fire passes, there is coolness and nothing remains. The previous attendants and music become even more prosperous. Sitting silently all day, with inner vision clear and bright, one feels no satiety. Miraculous validations and proofs cannot be fully recorded. One may feel the body constantly flying and soaring, with spirit and energy drifting, difficult to control. Using the method of "adjusting the Spirit to exit the shell" marks the time of transcending the ordinary and entering sainthood.