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[Li Shizhen said] Method of sublimation: Take one tael of true mercury powder, place it in a clay jar to ensure even distribution. Cover the mouth of the jar with an inverted oil lamp, and seal the seams with salt mud. First, use small charcoal... (The original text here is garbled and incomplete, making full translation impossible)

[Shen Wei said] Preparation of Lingsha (Spirit Cinnabar): Use one tael of quicksilver (Mercurius), three zhu of sulfur, grind them finely and stir-fry until they form "Qingshatou" (Green Sand Head). Then, place them in a furnace for the interaction of water and fire, and distill/sublimate until patterns resembling bundled needles appear, indicating completion. [Li Shizhen said] According to Hu Yan's *Secrets of Alchemical Pills*: The method for sublimating Lingsha: Place a new pot on a Xiaoyao furnace, wipe the bottom of the pot with honey... (The original text here is garbled and incomplete, making full translation impossible)

[Anonymous said] For every three taels of Xionghuang (Realgar), combine with five taels each of Gancao (Licorice Root), Zibeitiankui (Basella rubra), Didian (Euphorbia humifusa), and Bilenghua (likely a specific local herb or typo in source), finely chop, and add to a crucible with flowing water from the east... boil... (The original text here is garbled and incomplete, making full translation impossible)

[Anonymous said] In all processing procedures, do not allow women, chickens, dogs, individuals who have recently committed sexual offenses, sick persons, eunuchs, persons with physical deformities, or those who have previously undergone corporal punishment to be present... (The original text here is garbled and incomplete, making full translation impossible)

[Anonymous said] When using Jingquanshi (Well Spring Stone), pound it into powder in a stone mortar, sieve it, fly it with raw Gancao (Licorice Root) water, clarify, dry, and sieve finely for use. [Li Shizhen said] Ancient methods only involved crushing it to the size of soybeans, wrapping it in silk, and boiling it in decoctions. Modern practitioners, due to its cold nature, calcine it over fire or stir-fry it with sugar, so that it no longer harms the Spleen and Stomach.

[Anonymous said] When using Bai Huashi (White Talcum), first scrape it clean and grind it into powder, then boil it together with Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex) for one fu shi (a traditional time unit, approx. 2 hours). Remove the Mudanpi, take out the Huashi, wash it with flowing water from the east, dry it, and use.

[Anonymous said] When use Chi Zhi (Red Grease/Resin), grind it into powder, fly it three times with freshly drawn water, dry it, and use. [Li Shizhen said] There are also methods involving calcination followed by wet grinding (water flying).

[Li Shizhen said] When using Luganshi (Calamine), heat it red-hot with charcoal fire, quench it seven times in urine from a young boy, wash it clean with water, grind it into powder, fly it with water, and dry it for use.

[Yu Xi said] When using it, grind it finely and fly it with water. Otherwise, it may cause Lin syndrome (dysuria/painful urination).