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The most essential aspect of the immortal's practice lies in "Cunxiang" (Visualization and Retention). "Cun" refers to retaining one's spirit, while "Xiang" refers to visualizing one's body. Closing the eyes allows one to see one's own eyes; gathering the mind allows one to perceive one's own heart. When the mind and spirit do not depart from the body and do not injure the spirit, this constitutes the preliminary stage of Cunxiang.

The way of nurturing life involves maintaining slight physical exertion, but avoiding excessive fatigue or forcing oneself beyond one's capacity. Regarding diet, one should eat small amounts frequently rather than large meals at once, always maintaining a state between fullness and hunger. Those skilled in nurturing life should eat before feeling hungry and drink before feeling thirsty. After eating, one should walk and massage the abdomen hundreds of times. Before sleeping at night, one should habitually keep the mouth closed, as opening it leads to the loss of Qi and allows pathogenic factors to enter from outside. Sleeping with knees bent and lying on the side benefits Qi strength more than lying flat on the back. In spring, one should sleep late and rise early; in summer and autumn, sleep late and rise early; in winter, sleep early and rise late. Although rising early is advocated, it should not be before the rooster crows; although rising late is allowed, it should not be after the sun has risen. One should avoid prolonged walking, standing, sitting, lying down, listening, or viewing. One should not force food intake or alcohol consumption. If drinking alcohol, one should not drink excessively; if overindulged, one should induce vomiting promptly. Practitioners of life-nurturing should not spit forcefully over long distances, walk hastily, listen to extreme sounds, view extreme sights, sit for too long, stand until fatigued, or lie down until uncomfortable. One should dress warmly before feeling cold and undress before feeling hot.

Vomiting expels old Qi, also known as "Dead Qi"; inhaling/nourishing Qi takes in new Qi, also known as "Living Qi."

Peng Zu said: "The method of harmonizing and guiding Qi involves a sealed room with closed doors, a warm bed and mat, and a pillow half a cun high. Lie straight on your back, close your eyes, hold your breath, and place a goose feather on your nose without letting it move. After three hundred breaths, you will hear no sounds, see no sights, and have no thoughts. In this state, cold and heat cannot invade, and stinging insects cannot poison you. Your lifespan can reach 360 years, approaching that of a 'Zhenren' (True Person)."

Upon waking at night, often tap the teeth nine times and swallow saliva nine times. Press the nose with hands, moving up, down, left, and right dozens of times.

Immortal scriptures state: "Constantly visualize Qi in the heart, the size of an egg, red inside and yellow outside, which can ward off various evils and prolong life." It also says: "Constantly visualize the heart like a blazing fire, bright as the Big Dipper, so that all evils dare not approach."

Daoist Qiao Jing was 178 years old yet vigorous. He stated that every morning he consumed "Yuquan" (Jade Spring), which is saliva. Before rising in the morning, rinse the mouth with saliva until full, then tap the teeth fourteen times (two sets of seven). This is called "Refining Essence" (from *Xiuzhen Mijue*).

In Yangzhou, there was a military officer named Shi Qi who served in the Liangguang region for over ten years without contracting miasma. His complexion was ruddy and smooth, and his waist and limbs were light and agile. Initially, he took no medicine, only rising at the fifth watch each morning, sitting with feet facing each other, and rubbing the Yongquan acupoints until sweating. Ouyang Xiu usually disbelieved in immortals and Buddhas and mocked those practicing Qi circulation. In his later years, he said: "For several years, I suffered from a painful sore on my foot. Recently, someone taught me a method. After three days of use, the pain vanished. The method is: sit with feet stacked, close eyes, grasp fists tightly, contract the anus, and shake the feet like balloons. Stop when Qi is exhausted, resume when Qi stabilizes. Practice whenever free. This is the 'Banyun Jiefa' (Rapid Transport Method). After Wen Zhong's [Ouyang Xiu's courtesy name] pain subsided, he abandoned the method. Had he continued, it would have been beneficial" (from *Chiqi Biji*).