《列仙傳》

Chisongzi was the Rain Master (Yushi) during the era of Shennong (the Divine Farmer). He cultivated immortality by ingesting "water jade" (a type of elixir) and later transmitted this method to Shennong himself. This immortal could withstand self-immolation in raging flames without perishing, frequently traversed the Kunlun Mountains, often dwelled in the stone chambers of the Queen Mother of the West (Xiwangmu), and could ascend or descend freely with wind and rain. The youngest daughter of Emperor Yan followed him in cultivation and likewise attained immortality. By the time of Emperor Gaoxin's reign, Chisongzi once again assumed the role of Rain Master. To this day, the rain deity worshipped in folk traditions is none other than him. A poetic ode praises: "Chisongzi and the maiden immortal soared hand in hand, riding the celestial winds straight to the ninth heaven, gliding through the Mystic Garden (Xuanpu). Mastering the Dao of wind and rain, he became the paragon of rain deities."

Ning Fengzi served as the pottery official during Huangdi's (the Yellow Emperor) reign. Legend tells of a mysterious figure who taught him a method to produce five-colored mist while firing pottery. Later, Ning Fengzi piled firewood and immolated himself, ascending with the rising smoke. People discovered his bones amidst the ashes and buried them in Mount Ningbei—hence his name "Ning Fengzi." A verse marvels: "Ning Fengzi grasped nature's profound mysteries, refining his form in the cosmic furnace, transforming into five-colored mist. Only his bones remained at Mount Ning—ordinary eyes saw traces but never comprehended the hidden wonder."

Ma Shihuang, the imperial veterinarian during Huangdi's era, mastered equine diagnostics and healing. Once encountering a dragon with drooping ears and gaping mouth—clearly ailing—he treated it by needling the acupoint beneath its lips and administering licorice decoction. Thereafter, sick dragons frequently emerged from waters seeking his care, until finally one carried him heavenward on its back to immortality. Poetry recounts: "Ma Shihuang's healing arts extended even to dragons. In gratitude, the enlightened beast bore him skyward with bit in mouth, leaping across the Heavenly River—leaving behind resplendent legend."

Chijiang Ziyu lived during Huangdi's reign, sustaining himself not on grain but solely on wildflowers and herbs. By Emperor Yao's time, he served as a carpenter who could ride the wind, often selling bowstrings in marketplaces—earning him the nickname "String Father." Verse contrasts: "Mortals cling to grain yet rarely achieve longevity, while Ziyu transcended worldly ties. Nourished by floral dew, roaming on wind and rain, his footsteps light as if treading the immortal path."

The celestial realms among the clouds may be wandered freely, and human nature-life (xingming) can likewise transcend mortal bounds. This passage records the deeds of several ancient immortals.

The Yellow Emperor (Huangdi), foremost among the Five August Emperors of antiquity, originally named Xuanyuan, could summon and command a hundred spirits. From childhood, he could speak and displayed extraordinary wisdom, comprehending the patterns of all things. He called himself the "Master of Clouds." Legends say the Yellow Emperor bore dragon-like features and foresaw his own death. After bidding farewell to his ministers, he was buried at Mount Qiao. Later, the mountain collapsed, revealing only a sword and sandals within his coffin. Another account states that he mined copper at Mount Shou and cast a great tripod at Mount Jing. When the vessel was completed, a dragon descended with trailing whiskers to welcome him, and the Yellow Emperor ascended to heaven astride the dragon. His ministers clung to the dragon’s whiskers in an attempt to follow, but the whiskers snapped, sending them tumbling to the ground, where they could only watch in sorrow as he soared away. Later generations named the place "Tripod Lake" and called his bow the "Crow’s Cry."

Wo Quan was a herb-gatherer of Mount Huai who particularly loved pine nuts. His body was covered in hair several inches long, and his eyes could see in different directions simultaneously. He could fly fast enough to overtake galloping horses. He once offered pine nuts to Emperor Yao, but the ruler had no time to consume them. Those who ate such pine nuts in those days lived two to three hundred years.

Rongcheng Gong claimed to be the teacher of the Yellow Emperor, yet he later appeared during the reign of King Mu of Zhou. He mastered the arts of chamber cultivation (fangzhong), understanding how to refine essence (jing) and vital energy (qi) through the "Mysterious Feminine" (xuanpin, referring to crucial bodily apertures). His white hair turned black again, and his teeth regrew after falling out. His cultivation methods resembled those of Laozi, and some even say he was Laozi’s teacher.

Fang Hui was a recluse during Emperor Yao’s time who once served as a local official. He ingested mica as part of his practice and also treated illnesses among the people, later retiring to Mount Wuzuo. Toward the end of Xia Qi’s reign, he was abducted and confined by those seeking his Daoist teachings, but he escaped using transformative arts.

These accounts all embody the Daoist principle of "dual cultivation of nature and life" (xingming shuangxiu), pursuing longevity through methods like herbal ingestion, daoyin exercises, and concentrated meditation. Among them, "the valley spirit never dies" refers to preserving the body’s primordial qi through breath regulation, while "the gateway of the Mysterious Feminine" signifies a vital juncture in cultivation. These tales of immortals reflect the ancient yearning to transcend life and death, roaming freely between heaven and earth.

This passage records the deeds of several ancient immortals:

Fang Hui, a legendary transcendent, excelled in longevity arts and secluded himself on Wuzuo Mountain, consuming mica essence (a mineral believed by Daoists to prolong life). He practiced behind closed doors, sealing his gate with a special method—legend says doors smeared with his immortal clay could never be opened. Through internal cultivation (Neidan), he attained the realm of longevity; even when the seals were altered, their potency remained unbroken.

Laozi, the renowned founder of Daoism also known as Li Er (courtesy name Boyang), was born in the late Shang dynasty. For over eighty years he served as the Zhou dynasty's Archivist, mastering the art of nurturing life and excelling at accumulating vital essence (Jing-Qi). Confucius once traveled specifically to seek his counsel. As the Zhou declined, Laozi rode west on a black ox. At Hangu Pass, the border official Yin Xi recognized him as a perfected Daoist adept (Zhenren) and insisted he compose the two-volume Classic of the Way and Virtue (Daode Jing). Laozi advocated "non-action (Wuwei) yet nothing remains undone." His Daoist methods penetrated life and death, his spirit (Shen) merging with the primordial Qi of heaven and earth, his lifespan enduring as long as the cosmos itself.

Yin Xi, the Zhou border official, mastered internal cultivation techniques, regularly absorbing solar and lunar essences. Through Qi observation arts, he foretold Laozi's arrival and indeed intercepted him at the pass. Recognizing Yin Xi's extraordinary nature, Laozi transmitted Daoist methods to him. Later, the two journeyed together to the western deserts to teach the Hu peoples, eventually disappearing without trace. Yin Xi himself authored nine treatises collectively called Master of the Pass (Guanlingzi).

Master Juan was a Qi state hermit who extended his life to 300 years through herbology (Fushi techniques) that extracted vital essences. He wrote the Scripture of Heaven and Humanity (Tianren Jing), and later at Heze Marsh obtained an immortal talisman (Fulu) from a fish's belly. Secluded in Dang Mountain, he could summon wind and rain. He transmitted Laozi's (Boyang's) Nine Immortal Methods—though Prince Huainan Liu An acquired some texts, he failed to comprehend them fully. His Three Essays on the Heart of the Zither systematically expounded cultivation essentials. All these immortals attained longevity through Daoist methods of herb consumption and internal cultivation.

This recounts the legendary stories of several ancient immortals:

Lü Shang (also known as Jiang Ziya) was born in Jizhou with innate wisdom to foresee fortune and misfortune. To escape the tyranny of King Zhou of Shang, he secluded himself in Liaodong for forty years before moving to Western Zhou territory, where he dwelled in Zhongnan Mountain. For three years he fished at Panxi without catching anything. When neighbors urged him to give up, he replied they didn't understand. Eventually he caught a fish containing military texts (Bingqian) in its belly. When King Wen of Zhou dreamed of a sage and learned of Lü Shang, he personally welcomed him. Lü Shang assisted King Wu in overthrowing King Zhou, composed over a hundred military treatises, and cultivated longevity by consuming spirit mushrooms (Zezhi) and earth marrow, living two hundred years. After death, his body vanished, leaving only six jade-engraved military texts in the coffin.

Xiaofu, another Jizhou native, spent decades mending shoes in Western Zhou markets unnoticed in his youth. When people later discovered his ageless appearance, many sought his longevity methods but failed to learn them—only Liang Mu mastered his fire-control technique. At their parting, Xiaofu ascended to heaven amid dozens of flaming pyres, prompting locals to build a temple in his honor.

Shimen, Xiaofu's disciple, similarly commanded fire. He served Emperor Kongjia of Xia by tending dragons, but was executed for disobedience. After burial, violent storms arose and mountain forests burned until Kongjia performed sacrifices—only to die suddenly during his return journey.

Wuguang lived during Xia Dynasty with seven-inch-long ears, fond of playing qin and eating chives. When Tang of Shang consulted him before overthrowing Zhou, he replied "This doesn't concern me." Tang said...

The Liexian Zhuan (Biographies of Immortals) records the deeds of several ancient transcendents:

The story of Wu Guang unfolds thus: When King Tang of Shang inquired whether anyone knew Yi Yin (founding minister of Shang), a man replied he only knew Yi Yin could endure hardship. After overthrowing the Tyrant Jie of Xia, Tang wished to abdicate in Wu Guang's favor, declaring it ancient tradition that the wise devise plans, the brave execute them, and the benevolent should rule. Wu Guang declined, saying deposing a ruler was unjust, killing others was unvirtuous, and profiting from others' peril was dishonorable. Carrying a stone on his back, he drowned himself in Liao River to live in seclusion. Over four centuries later, he reappeared during King Wuding's reign. When Wuding sought to make him prime minister, Wu Guang found the king's coercion disrespectful and ultimately departed to Floating Liang Mountain. This transcendent typically focused on ingesting elixirs to cultivate his true nature, transcending worldly affairs to the extent of disdaining even imperial power.

Qiu Sheng served as an official during King Tang's era, holding the position of Forest Supervisor for over thirty years while paradoxically growing younger, earning widespread reverence as a marvel. He regularly consumed pine resin and built a stone meditation chamber north of Shixiang Mountain. By King Wu of Zhou's time, people still made special pilgrimages to honor him. The accompanying verse praises how he balanced self-cultivation with service to his lord, achieving greater vitality in old age with radiant countenance and eminent virtue.

Pengzu (Ancestor Peng), originally named Jian Keng, served as a Shang dynasty minister and was said to be a descendant of Emperor Zhuanxu. Living from the Xia dynasty through late Shang—over eight hundred years—he regularly ingested cassia and glossy ganoderma (immortal herbs), mastering daoyin (guiding qi) and breath cultivation. His transcendent abode in Liyang became famous for rainmaking efficacy, with two tigers frequently appearing near his shrine. The verse extols his mystical mastery of the Dao, renewing himself alongside cosmic creation through millennia, commanding even tigers' reverence.

Qiong Shu, a Zhou dynasty historian, excelled at refining qi (neidan practice) and bodily cultivation, preparing mineral elixirs from stone marrow for ingestion. These accounts collectively embody core Daoist ideals—nourishing life through herbal alchemy, reclusive cultivation, and ultimate transcendence.

Stone Milk (a mineral medicine) grew over centuries in the depths of Mount Taishi (Songshan), where natural stone beds provided rest. The Eight Delicacies (precious foods) could briefly prolong life, while the Five Minerals (medicinal stones) aided longevity—it was through ingesting these that Qiongshu (an immortal) attained the Dao. By refining his essence (Jing) and consuming vital energies, he remained light-footed even at a hundred years old. Often resting in Songshan, he could also wander through celestial palaces.

Jie Zitui, originally named Wang Guang, was a recluse from Jin who lived in obscurity yet befriended Zhao Chengzi. At dawn, a yellow sparrow perched at his gate, which struck Prince Chong'er (later Duke Wen of Jin) as extraordinary. For over a decade in exile, Jie Zitui toiled without complaint. After their return, he retreated to Jie Mountain, where the immortal Bo Zichang called at daybreak: "It is time." Bidding farewell to his mother, he entered the mountains to cultivate with Bo Zichang. Though Duke Wen sent envoys with jade and silks to seek him, he never emerged. Thirty years later, he was seen by the Eastern Sea as a common fan-seller. Decades after that, all traces vanished. Silent yet long-lived, Wang Guang aided a hegemon, befriended immortals, declined rewards, and vanished into the coastal mists.

Ma Dan of Geng served as a senior official under Marquis Wen of Jin, then as chief aide to Duke Xian. When Duke Xian destroyed Geng and executed its crown prince, Ma Dan departed. Under Zhao Xuanzi’s rule, he visited the capital by carriage to see old friends. As Duke Ling tried to forcibly recruit him, a gale tore open the roof—Ma Dan rode the whirlwind skyward. Northerners later enshrined him. Serving through Jin’s rise and fall, he attended Marquis Wen yet left Duke Xian. Whether prominent or obscure, he moved with ease. When crisis came, he followed heaven’s will, ascending alone on the tempest’s wings.

Ping Changsheng of Gucheng, of unknown origin, died and revived repeatedly, earning local skepticism. Later, when floods drowned multitudes, he stood atop Quemen Mountain shouting: "Ping Changsheng is here!"—predicting the waters would recede in five days. Afterward, villagers found him clad in fur and leather on the summit. Decades later, he reappeared as a gatekeeper in Huayin County. This enigma of Gucheng spoke cryptically yet grasped profound truths, transcending life and death. His form shifted with mystical changes, long indifferent to worldly status.

Lu Tong (also known as the Madman of Chu who greeted Confucius' carriage) was a longevity seeker who enjoyed eating the fruits of the tulu tree and shepherd's purse seeds. He wandered through famous mountains and lived in prolonged seclusion on Mount Emei in Sichuan, where people often saw him for several centuries before he departed. This eccentric scholar was devoted to cultivating the Dao, maintaining inner peace through breath regulation and focusing on subtle spiritual refinement. He once wandered the numinous mountains and let out a long whistle from Emei's summit to express his transcendent feelings.

Ge You, a Qiang tribesman during King Cheng of Zhou's reign, excelled at carving wooden goats to sell. One day he suddenly rode one of these wooden goats into western Shu, where local nobles followed him up Sui Mountain (an extremely high peak southwest of Emei). None of these followers returned, as they all attained immortality through the Dao. Hence the folk saying: "Obtain one immortal peach from Sui Mountain - even without becoming divine, you'll have ample pride." Later, dozens of shrines were built at the mountain's base to worship him. The wonder of Ge You lay in how ordinary wood could transform into spirited goats, while he himself ascended through this mysterious Daoist art.

The two goddesses Jiangfei (deities of the Yangtze River) often wandered along the Han River banks. When Zheng Jiaofu encountered them, he was captivated by their beauty without realizing they were divine beings. Ignoring his servant's warnings, he insisted on approaching: "Fair maidens, you seem wearied." The goddesses replied: "Wayfarers bear true weariness - what fatigue could we know?" Zheng expressed admiration through metaphor: "Oranges and pomelos in bamboo baskets, drifting down the Han's current. I gather sacred mushrooms along the banks, knowing my boldness, yet beg your jade pendants." The goddesses answered in kind with metaphors, then unfastened their pendants to gift him. Delighted, Zheng tucked them in his robe, but after dozens of steps the jade miraculously vanished. Turning back, the goddesses had disappeared. These radiant deities occasionally manifested by the river, their embroidered robes flowing as they walked, their glancing eyes revealing celestial grace. Zheng Jiaofu's encounter became like an intimate whisper conveying profound yearning.

The Story of Fan Li: Fan Li (a renowned statesman of the Spring and Autumn period), styled Shaobo, was a native of Xu who studied under Jiang Taigong. He habitually wore coarse hemp garments and sustained himself on plain water. After serving as a high minister of Yue and assisting King Goujian in conquering Wu, he retreated into seclusion aboard a small boat. Changing his name when arriving in Qi, he called himself "Chiyi Zipi." Over a century later, people saw him in Tao territory where he had become the wealthiest man in the realm, earning the title "Lord Tao Zhu." Later, he again renounced his riches to sell medicinal herbs in Lanling, and subsequent generations frequently reported sightings of him.

Fan Li sailed his cassia-wood boat with a mind empty yet aspirations lofty. Having learned from Jiang Taigong, he mastered both endurance and decisive action. After fulfilling his talents in Yue, he withdrew at the height of success, regarding a thousand pieces of gold as worthless sandals, roaming freely with the Great Dao.

The Story of Qin Gao: Qin Gao, a native of Zhao, excelled at playing the zither and once served as an attendant to King Kang of Song. Practicing Pengzu's longevity techniques, he wandered the regions of Jizhou and Zhuojun for over two centuries. Eventually bidding farewell to disciples to retrieve dragon offspring from Zhuo River, he instructed them to maintain purification rituals while awaiting his return by the riverside altar. True to his word, he reappeared astride a crimson carp, sitting at the altar for over a month while tens of thousands came to behold him, before returning to the waters.

Qin Gao moved with serene composure, having once overseen music in the Song court. Transcending worldly dust, he dwelled in solitary seclusion, freely traversing Zhuo's waters—sometimes emerging on crimson carp, sometimes vanishing into clear waves. This aquatic liberation into immortality brought him boundless joy.

The Story of Kou Xian: Kou Xian, a Song native, lived by fishing along the Sui River for over a century. Sometimes releasing his catch, sometimes selling or consuming it, he always dressed meticulously and cultivated lychee trees, savoring their blossoms and fruits. When Duke Jing of Song sought his longevity methods and was refused, he had Kou Xian killed. Decades later, witnesses saw Kou Xian playing the zither atop Song's city gate for dozens of days before departing. Thereafter, every Song household enshrined him.

Kou Xian treasured the true Dao, unwilling to impart it lightly. Though slain by Duke Jing, he achieved immortality through shijie (corpse liberation, a Daoist transcendence method). Fifty years later he reappeared, playing the zither serenely atop the city gate, delighting in music's harmonies.

The Story of Prince Qiao: Prince Qiao, given name Jin, was Crown Prince to King Ling of Zhou. Master of the sheng mouth-organ, he could mimic phoenix cries. Wandering between the Yi and Luo Rivers, the Daoist Fuqiu Gong guided him to Songshan for thirty years of cultivation. When family searched the mountain, woodcutter Bai Liang relayed: "Tell my household to await me atop Goushi Peak on the seventh day of the seventh month." On that day, he indeed descended the summit astride a white crane.

The Biographies of Exemplary Immortals records the deeds of several ancient transcendents:

Wangzi Qiao (crown prince of King Ling of Zhou) dwelled atop a mountain peak where people could see him from afar but never approach. Raising his hand in farewell to the world, he ascended to immortality several days later. Later generations built shrines for him at the foot of Mount Gou and Mount Song. Marvelous indeed was this royal prince who could roam spiritually between heaven and earth, playing sheng pipes by the Yi and Luo Rivers with music resembling phoenix cries. Sharing profound understanding with Master Fuqiu (another immortal), they joined hands in celestial ascent, whipping their steeds up azure cliffs before riding cranes into solitary transcendence.

Young Master Bo, a retainer of the Su family during Zhou dynasty, wore single-layered garments in winter but thick cotton trousers in summer. His appearance transformed yearly, becoming increasingly youthful over decades. Unbeknownst to mortals, he had attained the Dao and became a guardian spirit, blessing generations of Su descendants with good fortune. This Zhou retainer concealed his traces like an earthbound dragon hiding its true form. His summer thick robes and winter feather fans embodied fundamental principles, his virtue never seeking personal perfection alone. Ever mindful of the Su lineage, he safeguarded them through tribulations.

Master Anqi of Langya Fuxiang sold medicines by the East Sea, known as the Millennial Elder. When Emperor Qin Shi Huang toured eastward, they conversed for three days and nights, after which the emperor bestowed millions in gold. Departing, Anqi left at Fuxiang Pavilion a letter and pair of red jade slippers, saying: "Seek me at Penglai Mountain in a few years." The emperor dispatched Xu Fu, Lu Sheng and hundreds of searchers, but storms forced their return before reaching Penglai. Later, over ten coastal shrines were built in his honor. This transcendent Master Anqi maintained purity through emptiness and stillness, harnessing luminous qi in accordance with his nature, nurturing primal energy to prolong life. His brief enlightenment of the First Emperor, the treasures left at Fuxiang Pavilion, and impending flight to Penglai's wonderlands all dissolved into clear void.

Gui Fu of Xianglin could transform his complexion from black to white, yellow, or red. Revered by southern coastal peoples, he regularly consumed osmanthus and winter greens, compounding them with turtle brains into medicinal pellets. These "Gui Pills" were transmitted through generations, surviving even today in southern Jingzhou. The magnificent Gui Fu stood peerless in southern frontiers, his spiritual essence nourished internally by winter greens, externally perfumed by cinnamon blossoms. His radiant countenance shone through generations, his Daoist methods spreading across the southeast without equal for ages.

Xiaqiu Zhong sold medicines in Ning County for over a century, deemed ageless by locals. When earthquakes toppled buildings, his riverside home with dozens of neighboring households remained miraculously intact.

This recounts the miraculous deeds of several ancient immortals:

The first story tells of Bai Zhong, an immortal. After his death, his corpse was thrown into the water by people who stole his elixir to sell. Later, Bai Zhong resurrected wearing a fur coat and confronted them. The thieves fell to their knees in terror, begging for mercy. Bai Zhong said, "I only regret that you revealed my secret." With these words, he departed and later became the Hu King of Fuyu Kingdom. A courier saw him again in the north, addressing him as a "banished immortal" (an immortal exiled to the mortal realm). The accompanying poem describes how he transcended worldly concerns, mastering life and death at will, making his true identity incomprehensible to ordinary people.

The second story is about the Wine Merchant. He was a master brewer in the markets of Liang Kingdom, producing exceptionally fine wine that sold for tens of thousands of coins daily. After being expelled for some reason, the wine at that establishment turned sour. Many merchants sought to marry their daughters to him, but he came and went unpredictably. Over a hundred years later, he became the Chancellor of Liang, teaching people to grow taro and vegetables while predicting a great famine three years hence—a prophecy that came true. After five years, he resigned and disappeared without a trace. The poem praises his extraordinary wine, his beneficent governance, and his carefree departure.

The third immortal, Ren Guang, hailed from Shangcai and excelled in refining elixirs. For eighty-nine years he sold his pills in the marketplace, maintaining eternally youthful features. Elders recognized him as the same Ren Guang from decades past. When Zhao Jianzi invited him to stay, he often resided on Baiti Mountain. Three generations passed without knowing his whereabouts, though people of Jin frequently consumed his elixirs. The poem describes his alchemical mastery, his rosy complexion at a hundred years old, and his final ascension into the clouds.

Lastly comes the tale of Xiao Shi from Duke Mu of Qin's era. A master flutist, his playing attracted peacocks and white cranes. The duke's daughter Nongyu fell in love with him, and they married. Xiao Shi taught Nongyu to produce phoenix calls with her flute, and years later, actual phoenixes appeared. The couple dwelled in the Phoenix Tower until finally ascending with the phoenixes. The Qin people built a Phoenix Maiden Temple in their honor, where flute music could still be heard occasionally.

The story of Xiao Shi recounts how this master flutist could summon phoenixes and peacocks to dance in courtyards with his exquisite melodies. Duke Mu of Qin's daughter Nongyu (née Ying) shared his passion and learned to play the phoenix-song on the flute. Eventually, they ascended to the heavens together on phoenix wings. To this day, people maintain a shrine for Nongyu where the pure tones of her flute seem to still resonate.

Zhu Ji'weng was an extraordinary man who lived beneath Beishan Mountain in Luoyang's Shixiang district. For over a century he raised chickens—over a thousand birds, each with its own name. These fowls roosted in trees at night and wandered freely by day, coming when called by name. Though he earned millions selling chickens and eggs, he distributed all his wealth before traveling to Wu territory to dig fish ponds. Later he ascended Wushan Mountain, often accompanied by hundreds of white cranes and peacocks. Though humans and birds differ, their principles connect. Master Zhu understood this deeply—finding joy in poultry keeping and natural harmony in fish rearing. His method of letting chickens roost in trees demonstrates how all creatures can be transformed, an enduring teaching that never fades.

Zhu Zhong was a pearl merchant from Kuaiji. During Empress Lü's reign, the court offered rewards for a three-inch pearl. Seeing the proclamation, Zhu Zhong laughed: "This was made for you!" and presented such a pearl to the capital. Its exceptional quality earned him five hundred gold pieces. Later, Princess Luyuan privately offered seven hundred gold for another pearl—he delivered a four-inch specimen before vanishing. During Emperor Jing's reign, he suddenly reappeared with several dozen three-inch pearls, then disappeared again. Without greed, Zhu treated pearl trading as mere amusement. He could dive into abysses for luminous pearls—making his name in Kuaiji, displaying rarities in Xianyang. His generosity without expectation made his reputation echo through generations.

Xiuyang Gong, a native of Wei, dwelled in a stone chamber on Huayin Mountain. For years he slept suspended on a stone bed that bore the imprint of his form, consuming only Solomon's Seal rhizomes instead of ordinary food. Later using Daoist arts to visit Emperor Jing of Han, he was received with royal honors and lodged in the palace for years. When the emperor, frustrated by Xiuyang's refusal to teach, demanded to know when instruction would come, the Daoist transformed into a white goat before the sentence was complete—with "Xiuyang Gong thanks the Son of Heaven" inscribed on its ribs. The stone goat was placed on the Lingtai platform before disappearing entirely. Truly extraordinary, Xiuyang Gong embodied numinous power—sleeping on Huayin's rocks, sustained by medicinal herbs. Though honored by Han rulers, true Daoist methods cannot be forced. Capable of infinite transformations, he ultimately vanished without trace.

Ji Qiu Jun was a Daoist adept residing at the foot of Mount Tai. During Emperor Wu of Han's reign, he received imperial honors for his mastery of Daoist arts. This extraordinary practitioner witnessed his graying hair turn black again and new teeth grow where old ones had fallen out. Later, he left court life to return to Mount Tai as a recluse. When Emperor Wu made his eastern tour to Mount Tai, Ji Qiu Jun appeared wearing a ceremonial zhangfu cap and yellow Daoist robes while holding a guqin zither to greet him. He warned the emperor: "Your Majesty must not ascend the mountain, lest you injure your toes." True to his prediction, after traveling several li, Emperor Wu indeed wounded his right toe. Disturbed by this accurate prophecy, the emperor conducted his sacrifices at the mountain's base before returning, subsequently establishing a shrine in Ji Qiu Jun's honor.

This perfected being cultivated his practice in Muqiu Cave, achieving physical rejuvenation through Daoist arts. His timely intervention with zither in hand during the imperial tour demonstrated his ability to foresee and avert misfortune.

Cui Wenzi, a native of Mount Tai region and lifelong devotee of the Huang-Lao tradition (Daoist philosophy), dwelt as a recluse beneath Qian Mountain. He mastered the preparation of two elixirs: the Yellow Powder and Crimson Pills, which he sold before his father's shrine and in marketplaces while claiming three centuries of age. When a devastating plague claimed tens of thousands of lives, officials beseeched his aid. Carrying a crimson banner and distributing his Yellow Powder house to house, Cui Wenzi administered his remedy - those who drank it recovered instantly, saving countless lives. Later he traveled to Shu region to continue his medicinal work. Generations revered his Crimson Pills and Yellow Powder as divine medicines.

Having attained the true transmission of Daoist methods, Cui Wenzi possessed secret medical knowledge. Facing the plague's ravages, he compassionately healed the populace. The flashing of his crimson banner worked like lightning, his miraculous medicines bringing immediate relief - not only rescuing multitudes in his time but establishing eternal merit celebrated through the ages.

Red-Bearded Master (Chixuzi) was a native of Fengyi, and local legends recount his appearances during the reign of Duke Mu of Qin. Originally a minor official overseeing fisheries, he repeatedly predicted floods and droughts in the Fengyi region with uncanny accuracy—nine out of ten prophecies came true. Both officials and commoners revered him, honoring him as their teacher. He had a particular fondness for pine nuts, asparagus root (tianmendong), and mineral resins (shizhi) as medicinal ingredients. Miraculously, his lost teeth would regrow, and fallen hair would renew itself. Later, he practiced "cloud-mist absorption" (fu xia), a Daoist cultivation technique involving inhaling celestial vapors, severed worldly ties, and secluded himself at the foot of Mount Wu for over a decade before vanishing without a trace.

After leaving Fengyi, Red-Bearded Master retreated to Mount Wu for cultivation. Nourished by these three immortal elixirs, his aged countenance miraculously regained youth. Yet none of his disciples who followed him in the Dao attained longevity. How could the shallow wisdom of mortals fathom the mysteries of eternal life?

Dongfang Shuo, a legendary figure of the Western Han, hailed from Yanci County in Pingyuan Commandery. In his early years, he spent decades as a teacher in the Wu region. During Emperor Wu’s reign, he submitted memorials offering strategies and was appointed as a court gentleman (lang). By Emperor Zhao’s era, opinions about him were divided—some hailed him as a sage, others dismissed him as ordinary. He alternated between blunt remonstrance and feigned madness, leaving none able to discern his true mind. At the beginning of Emperor Xuan’s reign, he abandoned his official post to escape the turmoil. When the wind blew his cap away, he disappeared. Later, he was spotted selling herbs by Lake Tai in Kuaiji Commandery, leading some sages to speculate he was an incarnation of the Wood Star (Jupiter).

Dongfang Shuo’s wisdom far surpassed the ordinary, yet he mingled freely in the mundane world. Like a dragon or serpent, he could coil or stretch at will—how could he care for worldly honor or disgrace? His noble character soared beyond the clouds, living with unfettered freedom. Ultimately, he vanished into the misty waves of Lake Tai, yet his radiance endures like the morning sun.

Lady Gouyi, a consort of Emperor Wu of Han, was a native of Qi with the surname Zhao. From girlhood, she cherished tranquility. Once bedridden by illness for six years, her right hand remained clenched and unable to open, and she ate little. Practitioners of qi observation (wang qi) detected noble qi in the northeast, leading to her discovery. Summoned to the palace, her beauty was peerless. Emperor Wu pried open her fist to reveal a jade hook, after which her hand relaxed. She later gave birth to Emperor Zhao. After being executed by Emperor Wu for unknown reasons, her corpse remained warm and odorless for a month. When Emperor Zhao had her reburied upon his accession, only silk slippers remained in the coffin. Her palace was named Gouyi Palace (later renamed Yi Palace), and a temple in her honor still stands today.

This gentle, delicate woman received the Mandate of Heaven through a temple jade hook, bearing a wise heir to continue the imperial lineage. Emperor Wu’s momentary folly turned gratitude to enmity. Yet she faced death with equanimity—though her body perished, her fragrance lingers through the ages.

There was a man named Du Zi from the city of Ye. In his youth, he gathered pine nuts and poria cocos (two types of immortal herbs) from Black Mountain and consumed them, living for several centuries. His appearance would alternate between youth and old age, sometimes handsome and sometimes ugly, leading people to realize he was an immortal. He often frequented the wine shop owned by the Yangdu family to buy wine. The daughter of the Yangdu household, who managed the shop, was born with eyebrows so long they reached her ears—fine and elegant, astonishing everyone who saw her. Many believed she was a celestial maiden descended to earth. One day, Du Zi arrived leading a yellow calf to buy wine, and the Yangdu maiden took a liking to him, choosing to stay by his side. Later, she followed Du Zi to gather peaches and plums, returning the same night with fruits of extraordinary sweetness. When townspeople tried to follow them, they saw the pair holding the calf’s ears and flying away, impossible to catch. For decades afterward, they occasionally appeared in the marketplace before finally vanishing at the foot of Mount Pan, where it was said they still sold peaches and plums in winter.

Qi Longming was a man from Hunting Pavilion. At twenty, he found over a dozen dragon hatchlings resembling geckos in a pond and built a thatched hut to care for them diligently. As the dragons grew, they departed one by one. Over fifty years later, when a flood destroyed his hut, he suddenly returned to Hunting Pavilion riding a dragon, introducing himself as the grandson of Feng Bochang. He warned the villagers, "Those who do not evacuate within five hundred li will surely perish." Those who believed him fled, while others cursed him as a demon spreading lies. By the eighth month, the flood indeed came, drowning tens of thousands.

The origins of Zhu Zhu remain unknown. Once, he ascended Dang Mountain with a Daoist priest and revealed that the mountain concealed tens of thousands of pounds of cinnabar (a crucial alchemical ingredient). When local officials heard this, they sealed off the mountain, but the cinnabar erupted like flames, forcing them to allow Zhu Zhu to mine it. Magistrate Zhang Junming ingested the cinnabar for three years and later refined it into "Divine Cinnabar Flying Snow," consuming it for another five years before ascending to immortality alongside Zhu Zhu.

The tale of Yuan Ke tells of a man who cultivated fragrant herbs and raised silkworms. He received the aid of a celestial maiden, and eventually, the couple ascended to heaven together on a multicolored cloud.

Yuan Ke was a native of Jiyin, a handsome and gentle man whom many local families wished to marry their daughters to, yet he never took a wife. For decades, he cultivated five-colored fragrant herbs and sustained himself solely on their fruits. One day, multicolored moths alighted on his fragrant trees. Yuan Ke gathered them with cloth and nurtured them, eventually raising silkworms. When the silkworm season arrived, a beautiful maiden visited him at night, claiming to be his wife, and taught him sericulture. Together they raised one hundred twenty silkworms, whose cocoons grew as large as jars—each requiring sixty days to fully reel its silk. Later, the couple vanished without a trace, leaving no one knowing their whereabouts. Thus, for generations, the people of Jiyang worshipped the Silkworm Deity and built shrines in their honor. Some say Yuan Ke was actually from Chenliu Jiyang.

Lu Pigong hailed from Zichuan. In his youth, he served as a minor official in the local government and was exceptionally skilled in carpentry, able to craft all manner of tools with ease. On Mount Cen, there was a divine spring inaccessible to ordinary people. This official petitioned his superior, gathered thirty carpenters, and constructed rotating wheels and suspended pavilions. After several dozen days, they completed four laddered pathways, allowing them to ascend the summit and build a shrine. He remained beside the shrine, partitioning two rooms for solitary dwelling, where he consumed lingzhi mushrooms and drank from the divine spring for seventy years. Later, when the Zi River flooded three times, he summoned over sixty clansmen to take refuge on the mountain while the entire county below was submerged, drowning tens of thousands. Afterward, he sent his kin back down the mountain, donned a deer-hide robe, and departed, returning to dwell in the suspended pavilion. Over a century later, he was seen selling medicine in the marketplace.

Chang Rong was a Daoist practitioner of Changshan, who claimed descent from the royal lineage of the Shang dynasty. She sustained herself on the roots of wild vines and wandered the mountains in cultivation. Those who saw her said she was over two hundred years old yet retained the appearance of a twenty-year-old maiden. She gathered purple herbs to sell to dyers, donating all her earnings to widows and orphans—a practice she maintained for generations. Tens of thousands revered and made offerings to her. This Shang princess cast aside worldly splendor, transcending mortal concerns. Her delicate beauty and noble bearing reflected a spirit in harmony with the workings of nature, as she refined her Qi (vital energy) daily.

The Liexian Zhuan (Biographies of Immortals) records several extraordinary individuals who attained the Dao and achieved immortality:

Xi Fu of Nanyun County lived in seclusion in the mountains for years. A celestial immortal (xianren) often visited his home to buy melons and taught him to refine the seeds with medicinal herbs like cinnamon bark, aconite, and angelica root, which they shared. After over twenty years of such cultivation, Xi Fu gained supernatural abilities—walking on rooftops, scaling cliffs, and passing through mountains and water. More than a century later, witnesses saw him calling out to an elderly villager from a mountain peak, recounting past events.

Shan Tu of Longxi broke his leg in a riding accident as a youth. A mountain-dwelling Daoist (daoren) taught him to ingest herbal powders made from rehmannia, angelica, notopterygium, pubescent angelica, and sophora root. After a year of this regimen, his cravings diminished, his injuries healed completely, and his body became light as a swallow. He then followed the Daoist gathering herbs for sixty years. Returning home briefly to observe mourning for his mother, he later vanished without trace.

Gu Chun of Liyang served as a court official during Emperor Cheng of Han's reign. After his death, his corpse showed no signs of rigor mortis. His family kept the coffin unburied for three years out of awe—until he reappeared wearing official headgear at the city gates. When the coffin was opened, only his clothes remained. He eventually ascended Mount Taibai, where locals built a shrine in his honor.

Yin Sheng, a beggar beneath Chang'an's Wei Bridge, often sought alms in markets. Though people doused him with filth to drive him away, he would instantly reappear in the same spot, his robes perpetually spotless. These accounts collectively demonstrate the transcendent, miraculous powers cultivated by Daoist practitioners beyond ordinary logic.

Yin Sheng was a beggar whom people detested for his constant panhandling. Few could recognize him as a true immortal. He was repeatedly arrested and imprisoned by local authorities. Just as Han Xin (Marquis of Huaiyin) could endure the humiliation of crawling between another man's legs, how much more should we cultivators bear? Evil deeds invite calamity—the family that frequently drove Yin Sheng away later had their house collapse unexpectedly, crushing over ten people to death. Thus a folk rhyme circulated in Chang'an: "Offer the beggar a cup of fine wine, and you'll avert the disaster of collapsing walls."

The Hairy Maiden, named Yu Jiang, dwelt in the remote depths of Mount Hua. Generations of hunters had seen her, covered head to toe in hair. She claimed to have been a palace maid of Qin Shi Huang who fled into the mountains after the Qin dynasty's fall. Meeting the Daoist Gu Chun, she was taught to eat pine needles, after which she no longer suffered hunger or cold, her body becoming so light she could fly. Living over 170 years in the mountains, her cave often echoed with zither music. This beautiful palace maid followed the times into seclusion, receiving an immortal recipe from a perfected being. Sustained by pine nuts, she attained longevity—transcending worldly chaos to achieve the Dao. Her mountain retreat became a sanctuary where zither melodies expressed celestial joy.

Zi Ying of Shuxiang was skilled at diving for fish. Once catching a scarlet carp, he admired its color and raised it in a pond, regularly feeding it rice. After a year, the fish grew over ten feet long, sprouting horns and wings. Amazed, Zi Ying knelt in reverence. The fish declared: "I've come to escort you—mount my back." During heavy rain, he rode the fish skyward to immortality. Thereafter he returned yearly to visit family, each time met by the divine fish, continuing for seventy years. Later, every household in Wu painted this miraculous fish on their doors and built a Zi Ying shrine. This water-loving fisherman formed a bond with a spiritual fish, nurturing its wondrous scales and horns until finally ascending astride the dragon-fish.

Fu Lü's origins were unknown. Dwelling in Ju County, he frequented coastal shrines. Once three immortals gambling with melons at a shrine tasked him with carrying dozens of yellow-white fruits, instructing him to close his eyes. Upon opening them, he found himself at Mount Fangzhang (a fairy isle south of Penglai). Thereafter he regularly traveled between Ju County and the mountain, trading its gemstones. Years later, he suddenly shaved his head, donned russet robes, and aged dramatically. When questioned...

The Liexian Zhuan (Biographies of Immortals) records several extraordinary individuals who attained immortality through cultivation:

Fulü was a frequent visitor to temples, capable of summoning three immortals to assist him. Simply by closing his eyes for a brief rest, he could traverse a thousand miles in an instant. Though he damaged his reputation by privately taking temple treasures, this hardly warrants excessive criticism. Ultimately, he ascended riding dragons and phoenixes, achieving eternal carefree existence.

Wen Bin, originally from Taiqiu village, made his living selling straw sandals. He married multiple times, but would abandon his wives every decade. Later, he encountered a ninety-year-old woman who noticed Wen Bin appeared increasingly youthful and vigorous. When the old woman knelt weeping before him, Wen Bin admonished her: "You shouldn't act this way. If you wait for me west of the village altar during the first month..." The woman indeed brought her descendants and traveled over ten miles at night to wait. Upon seeing her, a surprised Wen Bin remarked: "So you wish to cultivate the Dao? Had I known earlier, I would have taught you sooner." He then instructed her in methods of consuming chrysanthemums, broom cypress, mistletoe, and pine nuts to replenish vital Qi (energy). The old woman consequently regained her youth and lived another century.

Shangqiu Zixu of Gaoyi delighted in raising pigs and playing the yu (ancient reed instrument). At seventy, he remained unmarried yet showed no signs of aging, astonishing his villagers. When asked about longevity techniques, he claimed one only needed to consume atractylodes, calamus root, and plain water to avoid hunger and aging. After living three hundred years this way, wealthy families attempted to emulate him but failed due to lack of perseverance, eventually suspecting him of withholding secrets.

Zizhu spoke with a Chu dialect in soft, delicate tones. He claimed Ning Xiansheng had invited him as a guest for three centuries, yet he never formally entered the immortal's gate. When the Prince of Jiangdu sent envoys to escort him up Longmei Mountain, they encountered the hairy, large-eared Ning Xiansheng playing the zither with disheveled hair. After Zizhu kowtowed, the envoy conveyed the prince's message, to which Ning Xiansheng replied...

The Liexian Zhuan (Biographies of Immortals) records extraordinary tales of individuals who attained the Dao and achieved immortality:

A descendant of the ninth generation living nearby warned a certain family that three women in their household would meet violent deaths, advising them not to interfere with his affairs. As soon as he finished speaking, a great wind arose, and the officials fled down the mountain. Later, three women in the palace indeed killed each other, and the king performed sacrifices with the three sacrificial animals (ox, sheep, and pig) and established a shrine.

The two immortals Zizhu and Ningzhu—one skilled in playing the qin (zither) and the other adept at managing temple affairs—were united through the Dao and could perceive the subtlest details. They devoted themselves wholeheartedly to assisting the ruler and sought guidance from their teacher to understand the principles of clarity.

Tao Angong was a metalworker from the Liu'an region. Once, while stoking the furnace for smelting, the flames suddenly turned purple and shot straight into the sky. Kneeling beneath the furnace to pray, he soon saw a Vermilion Bird (the divine bird of the south) perch atop it, informing him that his smelting technique had penetrated the heavenly Dao. On the seventh day of the seventh month, a red dragon would come to fetch him. On that day, a red dragon indeed descended, and Tao Angong rode it through the rain toward the southeast, witnessed by tens of thousands of people who came to bid him farewell.

Chifu, a native of Barong, served as a minor official managing documents at the Bijiao Temple. Skilled in refining elixirs with mercury, he consumed saltpeter for thirty years, reversing the aging process until even his hair turned red. Decades later, he ascended Mount Hua to gather "Yu's leftover grain" (legendary herbs left by Yu the Great) and sold them around the Cangwu and Xiang River regions. Later generations still encountered him, noticing the mark of a red axe on his palm.

Huzi Xian, a diviner from Hanzhong Pass, lived over a hundred years. On his deathbed, he told an elderly tavern keeper, "Prepare quickly—we are going to meet the King of Zhongling together." That night, an immortal brought two straw dogs, and Huzi Xian and the tavern keeper each mounted one. The straw dogs transformed into dragons, carrying them up to Huayin Mountain. Afterwards, people often heard voices from the mountain calling, "Zixian and the tavern keeper's mother are here."

These stories all embody the Daoist principle of the "resonance of the three numina" (the harmony of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity), fitting together like tally slips (ancient tokens of verification). Riding straw-made dragons to ascend, they achieved the Dao on Mount Hua, claiming to follow the timing of Heaven. When serving rulers against the true Dao, they received corresponding retribution.

Master Negative Case (Fu Ju Xiansheng) was a recluse of unknown origins who spoke with the distinctive accent of the Yan-Dai region (modern Hebei and Shanxi). Carrying his mirror-polishing kit year-round, he roamed Wu region markets calling out "One coin to polish your mirror!" Each time he polished a mirror, he would ask the household if anyone was ill, then gift them purple medicinal pills that never failed to cure. After decades of such healing, when a great plague struck the region, he went door-to-door distributing medicine that saved tens of thousands without accepting payment. Only then did the people of Wu realize he was a Perfected Being (Zhenren) who had attained the Dao. Later, he ascended the cliffs of Mount Wu, lowering medicine by rope from the summit. Before departing, he told those below: "I return to Penglai, the Immortal Isle, but shall leave you divine water." True to his word, white spring water soon flowed from the cliff—those who drank it were healed, and locals built over ten shrines in his honor.

Zhu Huang of Guangling suffered from abdominal tumors in his youth and sought treatment from Daoist priest Ruan Qiu at Mount Sui. Recognizing Zhu's spiritual potential, Ruan Qiu stipulated that upon recovery, Zhu must train under him for thirty years. After taking the medicine for a hundred days, Zhu expelled several pecks of tumorous matter resembling liver and spleen. Following recuperation, not only was he cured, but his spirit grew increasingly luminous. Ruan Qiu transmitted the Yellow Court Scripture (Huangting Jing) to him, which Zhu studied three times daily until grasping its profound truths. Master and disciple cultivated together for eighty years at the Jade Maiden Shrine in Fuyang Mountain. When Zhu finally returned home, his white hair had turned black again, with sideburns three feet long—the very image of an immortal. Even during Emperor Wu of Han's final years, people still reported seeing him.

Huang Ruan Qiu, the Daoist cultivator of Mount Sui, wore fur cloaks with disheveled hair, his ears hanging to his shoulders (seven inches long). Though toothless, he could walk four hundred li daily. For over a century, he quietly cultivated onions and leeks on the mountain, unknown to the world until healing Zhu Huang revealed his true nature. This Perfected Being embodied the Daoist ideal of "blending radiance with the dust of the world" through his herbal healing and reclusive cultivation.

The Liexian Zhuan (Biographies of Immortals) records several extraordinary accounts of individuals attaining the Dao and achieving immortality:

The Story of Woman Wan:

Originally a wine merchant in the Chen marketplace, Woman Wan brewed exceptionally fine wine. When an immortal passing by drank at her establishment, he left five volumes of plain texts (Daoist cultivation scriptures) as collateral. Upon examining them, Woman Wan discovered they contained methods for nurturing life and harmonizing Yin-Yang. She secretly copied the essentials, then renovated her house to host young men, serving them wine and practicing the Yin-Yang harmonization techniques described in the texts. After thirty years of such cultivation, her appearance remained youthful as if she were twenty. Years later, when the immortal returned, he remarked with a smile: "Learning Daoist methods through theft without a master's guidance is like having wings but being unable to fly." Woman Wan then abandoned her home to follow the immortal, and none knew her subsequent whereabouts.

The mentioned "techniques of nurturing nature through intercourse" represent an ancient Daoist cultivation method advocating longevity through Yin-Yang harmonization.

The Legend of Lingyang Ziming:

This native of Zhixiang enjoyed fishing at Xuanxi Stream. Once catching a small white dragon, he panicked, removed the hook, and released it with reverent bows. Later, when he caught a white fish, he found scriptures in its belly teaching immortal elixir consumption methods. Ziming consequently gathered five mineral medicines (wushi zhi) from Mount Huangshan, consuming them with boiling water. After three years, the white dragon returned to escort him. He dwelled on Mount Lingyang for over a century—a peak towering a thousand zhang high—often calling down to villagers below. Two decades later, a man named Zi'an came inquiring about the fishing gear's whereabouts. Shortly after Zi'an's death, yellow cranes alighted on his grave-side trees, singing mournfully.

The Marvelous Encounter of Hanzi:

This self-proclaimed Shu native enjoyed hunting with hounds. Once when his dog ran into a mountain cave, Hanzi followed and journeyed for over ten days through hundreds of li, emerging from another mountain to behold palace towers atop a summit amidst verdant pines, with immortal officials and guards—a celestial realm suggesting Hanzi had stumbled upon an immortal abode.

These narratives collectively embody the Daoist ideal of "cultivation leading to immortality." By recording ordinary mortals' serendipitous encounters with transcendence, they demonstrate Daoism's pursuit of longevity and liberation. The mentioned plain texts, elixir consumption, and Yin-Yang harmonization all represent essential Daoist cultivation methods.

The Story of Hanzi: Hanzi once went searching for his dog and accidentally entered an immortal's grotto. There stood towering pavilions with rows of green pines. He encountered an immortal who gave him a talisman (fulu) and some elixir medicine. From then on, he could freely travel between the human world and celestial mountains. Later he chose to settle on Mount Ling, where celestial music could often be clearly heard. The people of Shu built a shrine for him at the cave entrance, attracting worshippers from thousands of miles around. His dog also transformed—turning red with long fur—and accompanied him for over a hundred years.

The Story of Muyu: Muyu was from Nanheping Township in Julu. His mother was a midwife. Once while delivering a baby, the newborn opened its eyes and laughed at her, frightening her terribly. That night she dreamed of a high official wearing a red headscarf guarding the infant, saying this was the Director of Destinies (Siming), a deity governing lifespan, who would make her son Muyu an immortal in gratitude. She later named her son Muyu ("Wooden Feather"). On Muyu's fifteenth birthday, a celestial carriage came to take him away. Twenty years later, a crane brought fish to his mother's doorstep. She lived to be a hundred before passing away.

The Story of Xuan Su: Xuan Su claimed to be from Hejian and sold medicinal pills made from croton seeds in the marketplace—seven coins per pill could cure all ailments. When the Prince of Hejian suffered from abdominal lumps, the medicine made him expel over a dozen snakes. Xuan Su explained this was retribution for misdeeds committed six generations earlier in the royal house, not the current prince's fault—because the prince often showed mercy by releasing female deer, heaven had sent Xuan Su to heal him. An old servant said his ancestors had seen Xuan Su before. The prince noticed Xuan Su cast no shadow in sunlight and tried to make him his son-in-law, but Xuan Su fled overnight. Later he was seen at the foot of Mount Changshan.

(Note: Siming is a Daoist deity governing lifespan; talismans (fulu) are special documents used for communicating with spirits or exorcism; elixir medicine refers to substances believed to confer longevity or immortality in Daoism.)

This passage presents philosophical reflections and historical records concerning the existence of immortals (xian). It begins with the story of a transcendent being named Xuan Su, who could heal people with miraculous pills and later ascended to immortality riding a deer.

The author argues for the plausibility of immortals by observing natural phenomena: the movements of heaven and earth follow their own laws, and all things possess their unique characteristics. Just as pine and cypress trees remain evergreen through winter, and the lingzhi mushroom is said to grant longevity, the natural world contains many extraordinary phenomena—so the existence of immortals should not be considered strange.

Historical records on immortals are abundant. For instance, Ruan Cang, a scholar-official of the Qin dynasty, compiled the Xian Tu (Immortal Charts), documenting over seven hundred immortals. The First Emperor of Qin’s obsession with seeking immortality led to many fangshi (practitioners of esoteric arts) gathering at court, though many accounts were likely exaggerated or fabricated. The text also mentions legends of celestial bodies transforming into human forms—such as the planet Venus (Taibai Jinxing) manifesting as a noble lord, or Jupiter (Suixing) appearing as the Duke of Ningshou.

The author notes that sages (wise and enlightened individuals) rarely discuss matters of immortals because their manifestations follow no fixed pattern. However, this does not mean one should outright deny their existence; rather, a rational attitude should be maintained. As the Analects states, "Do not speak of strange phenomena, uncanny powers, disorder, or spirits," which conveys profound wisdom—urging caution toward supernatural claims.

A key emphasis is placed on the idea that all things have their own inherent principles. Some phenomena may defy easy explanation, but they should not be dismissed outright. Just as evergreen pines and deathless medicinal herbs exist, so too might immortals—their reality follows the same natural logic.