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A question was asked: "Master Ziyang said that refining Qi (vital energy) refers to refining Yuan Qi (primordial energy), not the breath of respiration. Then where is Yuan Qi located?" The answer was: "Yuan exists mixed within a state of profound obscurity and vagueness, yet it does not truly depart from the breath of respiration." Zhu Ziyang stated: "Heaven and Earth are but one Qi. From this year's Winter Solstice to next year's Winter Solstice, there is only this one respiration. Exhalation belongs to Yang, inhalation belongs to Yin." Xuantong Zi said: "Exhalation is the emission of Qi, thus it is associated with the period after the Winter Solstice. Macroscopically, it is the annual respiration of Heaven and Earth. Therefore, the myriad metaphors used by immortals boil down to just the two characters 'respiration'." Another question arose: "One exhalation and one inhalation in the human body constitute one breath (xi). Yet scriptures speak of regulating the True Breath (Zhen Xi) and mention Fetal Breathing (Tai Xi). Are these indeed merely respiratory breaths?" The response was: "In a day, the human body exhales thirteen thousand five hundred times and inhales thirteen thousand five hundred times. One exhalation and one inhalation constitute one breath. The *Dan Jing* (Scripture of Alchemy) states: 'Heaven and Earth breathe internally, thus they endure long. If humans can also breathe internally like Heaven and Earth, they too can share their longevity.' However, ordinary people's breathing remains at the throat, causing Yuan Qi to exit along with it. Regarding the method of regulating breath: generally, the longer one regulates, the more concentrated the Shen (spirit) becomes, and the subtler the Qi becomes. After a long time, nasal respiration ceases entirely, leaving only subtle movements of Qi above the navel, similar to an infant in the mother's womb; hence it is called Fetal Breathing. This is a natural state of great stability of Shen and Qi, not achieved through forced action. However, this requires effort in forgetting worldly schemes and cutting off distracting thoughts. Thus it is said: 'When the mind is settled, the breath naturally harmonizes; when stillness endures, the breath naturally stabilizes.' Upon reaching the stage of Fetal Breathing in cultivation, Qi returns to the Yuan Sea (Primordial Sea). When Qi returns to the Yuan Sea, lifespan becomes infinite. There are those in the world who teach suppressing the breath; suppression involves forcing control, which is not the subtlety of nature. The *Dan Jing* says: 'Taking in Qi (Fu Qi) is not subduing Qi (Fu Qi); subduing Qi is not taking in Qi. Taking in Qi does not lead to longevity; longevity requires subduing Qi.' 'Taking in' is like a fish swallowing water—entering and immediately exiting, unable to be retained. 'Subduing' is like a cat catching a mouse—preventing Qi from leaking, condensing it into the Elixir, which is termed 'Containing Light,' meaning internal Qi does not exit and external Qi does not enter." Another question was posed: "Master Ziyang said that refining Shen refers to refining Yuan Shen (primordial spirit), not the thinking spirit (Silu Shen). Do these two indeed differ?" The answer was: "Xin (heart/mind), Xing (nature), and Shen are one. Because it is endowed by Heaven, a spark of spiritual clarity is called Yuan Shen; later, when shifted by emotional cognition, this clarity becomes submerged within it, thereby becoming the Thinking Spirit. In reality, Yuan Shen is thick and chaotic, neither deficient nor excessive. If a person can turn the light inward to reflect upon themselves and eliminate emotional cognition, then all such thinking becomes the wondrous application of Yuan Shen." Someone remarked: "Jing (essence), Qi, and Shen in humans are all called treasures and should all be valued. Yet Master Ziyang regards Shen as the ruler and Jing as the foundation. Since the human body, in movement, stillness, speech, and silence, is operated by this Qi, so that when Qi gathers it forms shape, and when Qi scatters life ends, is Qi not the root of humanity?" The reply was: "Although Jing and Shen are not two separate things, and Shen and Qi are originally inseparable, the three are integrated by one principle. Yuan Jing, Yuan Qi, and Yuan Shen govern the process between them, naturally generating each other without end. Thus Master Ziyang said: 'When Yuan Shen appears, Yuan Qi arises; when Yuan Qi arises, Yuan Jing is produced.' Therefore, one uses Yuan Jing to refine Ganjiao Jing (generative essence), Yuan Qi to refine Huxi Qi (respiratory Qi), and Yuan Shen to refine Silu Shen (thinking spirit). When these two aspects merge into one and unite with the Dao, naturally Yuan Jing is solidified and Ganjiao Jing does not leak, Yuan Qi resides and Respiratory Qi does not escape, and Yuan Shen is complete so Thinking Spirit does not arise. Those who cultivate the Elixir cultivate these three aspects, thus achieving wholeness."