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The true immortals and supreme sages have discussed three categories (three levels). By inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth, one can dispel floating cold pathogens, drive away guest heat pathogens, break up stagnation and obstruction, and circulate the meridians.

If respiration is stabilized at one hundred breaths, myriad diseases are unblocked. If respiration is stabilized at ten breaths, Qi and Blood naturally intersect, and Yin and Yang do not separate. If respiration is stabilized at ten thousand breaths, Qi remains stationary and Spirit is concealed; this is the merit of the Great Vehicle (Mahayana/high-level practice), which cannot be fully described in words. In terms of methods for tonifying Qi, this is the highest.

Zhenren Huayang said: When a Shanghan disease (Cold Damage) has just manifested, one should immediately reside in a quiet room, sit upright with legs crossed, close the eyes, calm the mind, regulate the breath, and let the Qi settle. Place both hands overlapping to support the external kidneys (testicles), and lean the body forward in a kneeling bow. After no more than twenty or thirty repetitions, cool sweat will appear, and the pathogenic Qi will naturally dissipate.

In the past, people suffering from nocturnal emission or seminal leakage due to deficiency-cold of the lower origin would, after sunset, sit quietly in a secluded room, support the external kidneys with their hands, and rub below the navel eighty-one times, completing nine rounds as a standard, merely alternating left and right hands. Thus, the Dantian becomes warm, and True Qi becomes abundant.

In the past, people practiced sitting quietly in secluded rooms, cutting off distracting thoughts, forgetting speech, and directing the mind downward. With eyes closed and visualization maintained, they imagined a fire wheel blazing intensely. Over many days, the Qihai (Sea of Qi) became firm, complexion became extraordinary, and over time, all impurities were expelled from below, allowing one to naturally withstand cold and heat.

In the past, for cases of excessive food intake leading to fullness in the chest and diaphragm, or where cold-heat stagnation, pain, nodulation, and blockage occurred, one should sit quietly, inhale clear Qi through the nose, keep the mouth closed, ensuring more Qi enters than exits, using this to attack the diseased area. Release only when the sensation is too tight; the Qi will naturally descend, and after three to five times, it will naturally eliminate itself.

In the past, it was believed that the Heart, located superiorly, belongs to Yang, yet Yin cannot reach it; the Kidney, located inferiorly, belongs to Yin, yet Yang cannot reach it. Consequently, above the Dantian, Qi ascends but does not descend; below the Dantian, Blood descends but does not ascend. This causes heaviness in the feet and knees, Yin condensation, and Yang dispersion.