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The *Xian Jing* (Classic of Immortals) states: To seek longevity, one must first eliminate the Three Corpses (San Shi, parasitic entities believed to reside in the human body and cause illness or death). Once the Three Corpses are eliminated, the will becomes stable; once the will is stable, desires are removed. The Three Corpses exist within the human body, causing excessive desires, anger, joy, and perverse malice, leading to premature death. Therefore, immortals take medicine to seek immortality by first eliminating the Three Corpses; if the Three Corpses are not eliminated, taking medicine is ineffective.

The *Hetu Jiming Fu* (Riverside Chart Record of Life Decree) states: There are deities in heaven and earth who oversee faults, depriving individuals of their lifespan based on the severity of their transgressions. A "Suan" (Calculation) refers to one day, and a "Ji" refers to one year. Major evils result in the deprivation of a Ji, while minor evils result in the deprivation of a Suan. Depending on the severity of the transgression, the amount deprived varies. Humans receive their lifespan with an inherent numerical limit. Those with a large inherent limit may die later even after their Ji and Suan are exhausted; conversely, those with a small inherent limit who commit many transgressions will have their Ji and Suan quickly exhausted and die early. Furthermore, there are Three Corpses in the human body, which belong to the category of Hun (Ethereal Soul), Po (Corporeal Soul), and ghosts/spirits. They desire humans to die early so that they can become ghosts, roaming freely and consuming human sacrifices. On every "Liu Jia Qiong Ri" (the end of each six-year cycle in the sexagenary cycle), they ascend to heaven to report to the Siming (Director of Fate): "This person's sins." Major sins lead to the deprivation of a Ji, and minor sins lead to the deprivation of a Suan. Thus, those seeking immortality first eliminate the Three Corpses, maintaining tranquility and lack of desire, keeping the spirit calm and nature clear, accumulating good deeds, so that taking medicine is beneficial and immortality can be achieved.

The *Da Qing Jing* (Great Purity Classic) states: The Three Corpses resemble humans in shape, approximately three cun long. The Upper Corpse is named Peng Ju (Pú Gēng fǎn, pronounced Jù), black in color, residing in the head, causing people to desire carriages, horses, and clothing; the Middle Corpse is named Peng Zhi, green in color, residing in the back, causing people to desire the five flavors; the Lower Corpse is named Peng Jiao (Jǔ Yǎo fǎn), white in color, residing in the abdomen, causing people to desire lust and sexual indulgence. Therefore, true persons first eliminate the Three Corpses, maintaining tranquility and lack of desire, making the spirit clear, so that medicines become effective. Thus, after midnight on Gengshen days, face due south, bow twice, and recite the mantra: "Peng Houzi, Peng Changzi, Mingzixi, all enter into profound darkness, leave my body." Repeat this three times. On every Gengshen day, do not sleep; face forward and call out their names. After three times, they will permanently depart. One should use the Liu Jia Qiong Ri, which is the Gengshen day. Every sixty days, upon reaching the Gengshen day, do not sleep, bow twice, and call out their titles until cockcrow, at which point one corpse and one worm are removed. Use the previous method for three repetitions on subsequent Gengshen days, and the hidden corpses and three worms will permanently depart. Trials have verified this. Constantly calling these three corpse names in the mind causes them to leave my body. On the third day, take peach leaves, heat stones until hot, place the leaves on them, and sit on them to remove the Three Corpses.

It is also said: The formula used by true persons to eliminate hidden corpses and three worms: On the third day of the third month, take peach leaves, crush them to extract seven sheng of juice, mix with vinegar (Ku Jiu), and decoct until five he remain. Take orally in one dose before meals; this heals hundred diseases.

Another formula: The Divine Man of Daoji says: To seek longevity, first eliminate the Three Corpses. The method to eliminate them is:
Gouji (Seven pieces) Ganqi (Two liang) Wuyi (Three sheng)
Grind these three substances into powder, sift, and take one he with water, twice daily. After seven days, the Upper Corpse is removed; after nine days, the Middle Corpse is removed; after twelve days, the Lower Corpse is removed. The form of these corpses resembles humans. Wrap them in cotton, bury them at the tip of a sharp object placed in flowing eastward water, and chant the mantra: "You should belong to the earth, I shall ascend to heaven." Then change your path and return home. Do not look back. Within three days, you may experience painful trance-like states, after which you will feel better.

Immortal Ji Zhoujun says: As long as the three worms are not destroyed and the three corpses are not dead, the reason why daoyin (guiding and pulling exercises) and fuqi (swallowing air) practices fail to achieve their principles is due to this. The three worms are also known as Qinggu, Baigu, and Xueshi, collectively called the Three Worms. They cause mental restlessness, unexpanded will, unstable thoughts, hunger when food is lacking, sadness, emotional agitation, and unsettled spirit and will. Therefore, even taking food cannot immediately cut off desires. Even if fasting (duangu) is practiced, the body feels heavy, lethargic, and dull; dreams are unreal and confused because the worms inside shake the five zang organs. Therefore, take Xiaochong Xi Wan (Fine Pills for Eliminating Worms) to kill intestinal worms.

It is also said: Wine formula for eliminating the Three Corpses:
Ten jin of wheat flour, three dou of east-flowing spring water, soak it. In spring and summer, soak for two to three days; in autumn and winter, soak for four to five days. When the flour begins to ferment and rise, squeeze and filter to remove the dregs. Cook five sheng of rice, add it according to normal methods, grind finely, sift, and mix with ten jin of Fuling (Poria) and ten jin of Tianmendong (Asparagi Radix). Cook thoroughly, stir until blended. Then peel Shanglu Gen (Phytolaccae Radix), slice thinly five jin, place in a silk bag, and position under the fermentation vessel. Seal and smear the opening. After twenty days, remove the bag, pour the juice into wine, remove dregs, then add one sheng of powdered Da Dou Huang Juan (Fermented Soybean) prepared by boiling soybeans until yellow and sprouting, into the fermentation. Seal and smear again. After five days, remove. Take a pill the size of a jujube pit, three times daily. After twenty days, increase the dose to the size of a chicken egg yolk, three times daily. The Upper Corpse exits in one hundred days, the Middle Corpse in sixty days, and the Lower Corpse in thirty days. Their shape resembles humans, about three cun long. The Upper Corpse is black, the Middle Corpse is green, and the Lower Corpse is white. Wrap them in five-colored cloth and store in a bamboo box. Bury them beside east-flowing water the following night, resembling a tomb. Cry bitterly and invoke blessings using your own name, saying: "Humans are born from heaven, receiving spirit from Yang, and form/bone from Yin. Now I return spirit to heaven and form/bone to earth. I bid you eternal farewell in the boundless wilderness; I shall depart and soar above the Nine Heavens." Upon completion, sprinkle water on the body, change clothes, and return home without looking back. For three days, one may feel melancholy, as if losing soul and spirit; after this period, one will feel well.