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Human beings receive their mandate from Heaven and take shape relying on the Earth; the Sun is their Hun (Ethereal Soul), and the Moon is their Po (Corporeal Soul). After a lifetime, one should not die again, provided that diet and nourishment are managed properly to prevent demise. Medicinal herbs often grow beneath fence roots, yet ordinary people may not be fully aware of this. Those of high status tend to value hearsay over direct observation, focusing only on the empty fame of herbs from Wu and Shu regions, while ignoring the utility of things available at hand, which could indeed achieve certain results. They fail to realize that the secret to longevity lies in taking specific medicines to extend life. In the world, some individuals extend their years by taking a single herb, such as Huangjing (Polygonati Rhizoma) or Gouqi (Lycii Fructus), which are excellent among medicinal materials. However, some suffer from headaches and find it difficult to take these tonics. Peng Zu, Xia Ji, and the Four Whiteheads of Mount Shang refined Xingren (Prunus Armeniaca Semen) into pills, thereby attaining immortality. Wang Zijin and Ding Lingwei did not abandon worldly affairs nor give up having wives and children; instead, they consumed raw Xingren for a long time, eventually being welcomed by immortals to ride dragons and cranes to ascend. This was solely due to the consumption of Xingren.

Taking Xingren nourishes the Five Viscera (Zang-Fu Organs), strengthens sinews and bones, replenishes blood and marrow, enhances spirit, improves memory, clarifies vision allowing one to see clearly for a thousand li, resolves phlegm and accumulations, and transforms mortals into immortals. If one takes it for forty years like Wang Zijin, one will unconsciously fly into the sky; if taken for twenty years like Ding Lingwei, one will also unconsciously ascend. These two individuals took no other medicines, only raw Xingren. For such miraculous effects, there is no need to cook or process it; raw usage retains full efficacy, whereas cooked usage reduces efficacy by half.

Xingren has ten names: 1. Changsheng Yuan (Longevity Origin); 2. Qiansui Yuan (Thousand-Year Origin); 3. Huabai Lingshao Yuan (Transform-White-Youth-Origin); 4. Que Lao Yuan (Anti-Aging Origin); 5. Tongshen Wansui Yuan (Spirit-Connecting-Thousand-Year Origin); 6. Jing Yuan (Essence-Stabilizing Origin); 7. Gai Jing Yuan (Cover-Essence Origin); 8. Chaosheng Yuan (Ascension Origin); 9. Huangu Qingshen Yuan (Bone-Changing-Body-Lightening Origin); 10. Lian Xingren Jindan Yuan (Refined-Xingren-Golden-Pill Origin). Those who consume it experience all these effects.

Xingren is neither cold nor hot in nature, has no contraindications regarding contact, and does not conflict with other herbs. It is uniquely contraindicated to be taken with sweet water porridge made from un-washed white japonica rice. Accidental consumption causes slight discomfort, which resolves shortly. When traveling, if one encounters such porridge, simply letting it cool allows consumption without harm, except for this specific porridge.

Xingren is warm and neutral in nature with a slight bitter taste that becomes sweet after prolonged use. After three years of consumption, the bitterness disappears, leaving only sweetness. Its action does not direct Qi downward but clears heat above the diaphragm and alleviates abdominal and lumbar discomfort (text missing character, likely pain/distension), which the user should perceive personally.

Select raw Xingren, remove the skin and tips, preferring double-kernel ones, especially yellow ones. At dawn, on an empty stomach before rinsing the mouth, chew fourteen kernels (two sevens). Remove skins and tips in the mouth, chew thoroughly until half a mouthful of saliva is produced, then swallow. Walk for the distance of one li. One may then eat any food. To seek longevity alone, meat and pungent foods may be eaten; to seek ascension, all meat and pungent foods must be avoided. One may keep a family and engage in farming or labor. Meat spoils easily and offers little benefit. Pungent flavors are taboo for cultivators; abstaining from meat facilitates the Dao of Immortality.

After one year of consuming raw Xingren, hundred diseases self-resolve; after two years, the body feels light and vision clears to see a thousand li; extending life by fifty years requires six years of consumption, resulting in complete internal bone renewal and a peach-blossom complexion, extending life by seven ji (168 years); after seven years, walking speed matches galloping horses, old teeth fall out and new ones grow; after eight years, attended by jade maidens, lifespan reaches 150 years; after nine years, one hears temple bells and chimes, extending life by 500 years; after ten years, lifespan equals that of the sun and moon. However, consuming five pungents and blood products prevents hearing celestial sounds.

After twenty years of continuous use, the body ascends into the void without return; after thirty years, immortals come to welcome. If one abstains from wife, children, blood products, and five pungents while maintaining proper nutrition, after twenty years, multitudes of immortals welcome one for daytime ascension; if one abstains from blood products and maintains nutrition but keeps a family, after forty years, one day immortels unexpectedly arrive. I enjoyed hunting and relied on flesh and blood, but at age sixty, upon reaching Mount Heng, I obtained this prescription and consumed mountain-collected Xingren. After ten years, my body felt light and vision clear, leading to joy and reduced sleep. At twenty years of consumption, I am eighty, originally planning to live only to one hundred and prepare for death, not expecting longevity. Suddenly, over thirty people descended from Mount Heng. Unable to avoid them, I stood firm, greeted them halfway, and they bowed; I dared not look directly. A child guided me, and suddenly I found myself in a celestial palace, not the human world. I leave this prescription for future wise ones, do not despise it, and do not casually share it with commoners lest it be mocked.

Mr. Zhang's method for consuming raw Xingren, including precautions and adjustments, was obtained from Master Yuan of Qisheng Temple, who received it from Yang Xingzhen of Mount Wangwu. Every morning, on an empty stomach, take fourteen Xingren kernels (double-kernel, skin and tip removed). Face southeast, before rinsing the mouth, chew thoroughly until half a mouthful of saliva forms, then swallow immediately. Walk one li, then eat freely to avoid reducing efficacy.

Effects of Xingren: After 21 or 28 days of consumption, flatulence increases threefold compared to normal. After three months, feet feel hot as fire, and latent abdominal diseases heal spontaneously. After eight months, lung function harmonizes, latent diseases cease, and vision becomes clear like an infant's. By sixteen months, viscera renew, chest and diaphragm open, rebellious Qi ceases, and masses dissipate. By twenty-four months, liver becomes bright, hepatic masses shed naturally, eyes become sharp, eye diseases vanish, and distant vision improves. By thirty-two months, spleen functions smoothly, stomach opens, abdomen moves naturally, spleen Qi stabilizes, and abdominal comfort ensues. By forty months, kidneys align, black skin sheds, Qi flows without stagnation, cold knots in waist and navel resolve, and the body remains vigorous.

Within the first two years, no harm occurs. After three years, protected by deities, grain Qi disperses, causing navel pain and sudden expulsion of 1,000 pieces of fresh blood. This shock indicates potent medicinal arrival, a supreme sign of longevity. If blood does not pass through the large intestine within three years, it is still a favorable sign. If blood continues past four years, it stops by the fifth year. If bleeding persists despite previous patterns, grain Qi is heavy, medicine is insufficient, and intestinal cleansing is incomplete; increase dosage to 47 kernels to break through, achieving similar immortal effects.

During bleeding: Day 1, appetite remains normal. Day 2 dawn, bloody discharge follows, accompanied by aversion to food smells, nausea, and vomiting. Fasting for seven days indicates superior immortality potential; otherwise, drink boiled japonica rice water. Days 3, 5, 7 involve expelling one sheng of blood with food aversion. Day 8 dawn, after bleeding, food smells pleasant; eat sparingly to avoid distension. Day 7 sees another one sheng of blood. Days 8-11 involve 2.5-3 shengs of blood at dawn. Days 12-15 involve frequent bleeding every two days. Day 16 sees 5-6 shengs of blood. Days 16-19 follow suit. Days 20+ see 3-4 shengs every two days. Days 21-23 continue. Days 26-27 continue. Days 28+ see 4-5 shengs every two days. Days 29-30 continue. Thereafter, frequency decreases, volume drops below normal 3-2 shengs, feeling light like removing heavy layers or boots. The user perceives this personally.

At exactly 100 days, bleeding stops, and intestines are fully renewed. For those seeking only disease cure, not longevity, stop bleeding three days post-discharge by taking mulberry fruit or green mulberries pounded into powder, brewed like tea, drinking 1-2 bowls. Without mulberry powder, use Isatis juice or Cirsii Japonici Herba juice, one bowl, to stop bleeding. Mild abdominal pain indicates effectiveness.