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Lei Gong said: When using Congru (Stalactite), do not use those with thick, heavy heads or large tails, as these are Konggong Stone (a type of calcite) and should not be used. Do not use those that are black in color, have been subjected to intense heat (calcination), have been stored on the ground for a long time, or have been previously processed with medicinal substances. One must select those that are bright in color, thin, and lustrous; those resembling goose quill tubes are considered superior, preferably five to six cun in length.

The processing method is as follows: Boil in Five-Flavor Perfume Water (Wu Xiang Shui) for one fu shi (approx. 2 hours), then strain out. Separately, soak in the juice of Gancao (Licorice Root, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) and Zi Bei Tian Kui (Ottelia acuminata juice), and boil again for one fu shi. For eight liang of Congru, use Chenxiang (Agarwood, Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum), Lingling (Lingzhi Fragrant Herb, Polygala sibirica), Huoxiang (Patchouli, Pogostemonis Herba), Gansong (Sweet Sassafras, Nardostachyos Radix et Rhizoma), and Baimao (Imperata Rhizome, Imperatae Rhizoma), each one liang. Boil once with water first, then use Gancao and another unspecified herb (context implies the remaining ingredients from the previous step or specific additives mentioned earlier, here interpreted as the two main soaking agents or specific pairings) each two liang for a second boiling. After boiling, strain out, wipe dry, and bake over slow fire. Then, pound in a mortar until it becomes powder, sieve it, return it to a钵 (mortar/bowl), and have three or four strong young men grind it continuously for three days and nights without rest. Then, perform water levigation (Shui Fei): add water, stir, let settle, filter through silk gauze, and sun-dry. Grind in a mortar twenty thousand times more, then store in a porcelain jar for use.

Lei Gong said: When using Bai Fan (Alumen), place it in a porcelain bottle and heat it in fire until both inside and outside are red-hot. Use tongs to remove the lid, immediately insert Shi Feng Ke (Stone Beehive/Alum stone found in caves), and burn the beehive completely. Remove with tongs, allow to cool, crush, put into a mortar, grind into powder, then dig a pit under the eaves about five cun deep. Wrap the powder in paper, leave it in the pit overnight, take it out, and grind again.

For every ten liang of Bai Fan processed, use six liang of Shi Feng Ke as the standard limit.

He also said: When selecting Bai Fan, choose those that are bright like crystal and possess complete sour, salty, and astringent tastes. Grind into powder and store in a porcelain bottle. The bottle should hold about three sheng. Coat the bottle with Liu Yi Ni (Six-One Mud, a traditional sealing paste), and dry it by the fire. Place the ground Bai Fan into the bottle. Add one yi (ancient weight unit) of natural juice from Wu Fang Cao (Five-Direction Grass, likely referring to a composite herbal juice) and Zi Bei Tian Kui. Gradually add Bai Fan while heating below to evaporate the juice. Seal the lid and mouth with mud, and burn with one hundred jin of charcoal fuel. From Si hour to Wei hour (approx. 09:00–15:00), extinguish the fire, remove the Bai Fan bottle, let it cool, break the bottle, retrieve the Bai Fan, pound finely, and grind into a light powder before use.

If subjected to intense fire calcination, the color will become silver-like, naturally neutralizing its fiery nature (Fu Huo), and the weight will remain unchanged.