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When Yin prevails and Yang declines, and when Yin and Yang are in equilibrium, signs of decline appear. At age fifty, the body feels heavy, and hearing and vision become less acute (Yang Qi is light and agile; Yin Qi is heavy and difficult to move. At fifty, Yin is abundant, hence heaviness. Yang governs openness, Yin governs obstruction, hence poor hearing; Yang represents brightness, Yin represents darkness, hence poor vision). At age sixty, impotence occurs, vital energy greatly declines, the nine orifices become obstructed, deficiency in the lower part and excess in the upper part manifest, and tears and saliva flow freely (Great decline of Yang Qi causes impotence. Obstruction of the nine orifices results from insufficient Yang Qi failing to transform and transport. Lower deficiency refers to the weakness of Mingmen Fire; upper excess refers to Yin encroaching upon Yang. Free flow of tears and saliva indicates Yang's failure to consolidate fluids). Thus it is said: Those who understand [the principles of] Seven Losses and Eight Benefits will be strong; those who do not will age prematurely (Understanding and regulating the Seven Losses and Eight Benefits leads to strength; ignorance leads to gradual Yin growth and aging). All things originate from the same source but have different names (Originating from the same source refers to Yin and Yang; different names refer to strength and old age). The wise observe the commonality, while the foolish observe differences (The wise penetrate the essence of Yin and Yang, thus observing the commonality. The foolish only know the forms of strength and old age, thus observing differences). The foolish lack sufficiency; the wise possess abundance. Abundance brings clear hearing and vision, a light and strong body; the elderly may regain vigor, and the vigorous become even healthier (The foolish experience Yin growth and daily decline, hence insufficiency; the wise experience Yang generation and daily strength, hence abundance. Abundance brings clarity and agility; even the elderly can resemble the vigorous, and the vigorous become more regulated. This aligns with Laozi’s concept of "early preparation" and "accumulating heavily"). Therefore, the sage engages in non-action (Wu Wei), finding joy in tranquility and emptiness (Non-action is the Way of Nature. Tranquility and emptiness represent the joy of purity and stillness. Laozi’s "non-action yet nothing is left undone" and Zhuangzi’s "joy in completeness" exemplify this). Following desires and fulfilling aspirations within the realm of emptiness and stillness, their lifespan is infinite, lasting as long as Heaven and Earth (Following desires resembles Confucius’ "following the heart's desire without transgressing." Fulfilling aspirations corresponds to the "self-satisfaction" in the Great Learning. Reaching the utmost emptiness and holding fast to stillness constitutes the guard of emptiness. Injury in the world arises from "fullness" and "existence." Being identical with emptiness prevents decay. Thus, the lifespan is infinite, coexisting with Heaven and Earth. My commentary: Yang is light, clear, and formless; Yin is heavy, turbid, and formed. The art of longevity must emphasize emptiness to preserve Yang. Hence, the function of immortals lies in the exhaustion of Yin and purity of Yang; titles like "Pure Yang" or "Complete Yang" highlight Yang as essential. *Zhonghe Ji* states: A great cultivator who has not exhausted their share of Yin cannot become an immortal; any ordinary person who has not exhausted their share of Yang will not die. Understanding this makes the principles of Seven Losses and Eight Benefits undeniable).

The lost chapter *Ci Fa Lun* (Treatise on Acupuncture Methods) states: For those with chronic kidney disease, at the Yin hour (3–5 AM), face south, keep the spirit pure and thoughts undisturbed, hold the breath for seven cycles, extend the neck and swallow air smoothly, as if swallowing a very hard object. After seven cycles, collect and swallow the saliva under the tongue repeatedly (The Kidney is a Water organ, with Lung Metal as its mother. Lung Metal governs Qi; swallowing air is the method of the mother caring for the son. Swallowing saliva follows the principle of mutual attraction among similar substances. Humans are born in the Yin hour, which is the convergence of vigorous Yang. Yang peaks at Wu noon, the direction facing light. Keeping the spirit undisturbed means the mind is like the Great Void, quiet, stable, and unified. Holding the breath involves stopping respiration; when breath is extreme, exhale slightly without sound. Seven cycles represent the number of Yang. Extending the neck straightens the airway for easier Qi descent. Swallowing like a hard object requires forceful swallowing with audible sounds, directing Qi via intention to the Dantian/Qihai. Qi is the mother of Water; sufficient Qi naturally strengthens Essence. Collecting saliva under the tongue works because the Mingmen lies between the two Kidneys, connecting upward to Heart and Lung, opening at the base of the tongue to generate fluids. Ancient characters for "living" combine Water and Tongue, indicating tongue fluid gives life. The character "tongue" combines Thousand and Mouth, implying thousand mouthfuls sustain life. Saliva and Kidney Water are originally one family; swallowing returns them to the lower extremity for reunion, achieving the state of Water-Fire Intersection (*Ji Ji*). *Xian Jing* says: Qi is the medicine that adds years, saliva is the lingzhi that extends life. People rush about in the world, not knowing whom else to seek besides me. Qi is the mother of Water, Water is the root of life. Diligent practice ensures longevity. *Wuzhen Pian* says: Swallowing saliva and gathering Qi is what humans do; only with true medicine can creation arise. If the furnace lacks the true seed, water and fire merely boil an empty pot. This speaks of utmost emptiness and stillness, nourishing the spiritual root with Essence and the spirit with Qi—the true seed).

My commentary: The *Suwen* and *Lingshu*, each in nine volumes, contain no words that are not secrets of respecting life. What is extracted here does not rely on hundreds of herbs but on guarding unity; it does not prioritize the nine pulse diagnoses but emphasizes the three wonders. Observing the Way of Heaven and executing its actions, offering a century-long path as the eternal Way of Respecting Life—this is truly great. Thus, anything not rooted in emptiness and stillness is heretical technique; anything not returning to simplicity and ease is a heterodox school. If one diligently seeks truth here, will there be any remaining depth in the *Daodejing* (Five Thousand Words) or the five scrolls of Alchemical Classics?