The Li Xiyue 李西月

Li Xiyue was a native of Leshan, Sichuan during the Qing Dynasty.

His original name was Li Pingquan, and he had the literary names Hanxu and Changyi Shanren (Hermit of Changyi).

In his youth, he studied at Jiufeng Academy under Li Jiaxiu. When he grew older, he claimed to have met Zhang Sanfeng, from whom he received the secret teachings of alchemical methods. Later, he also claimed to have encountered Lü Dongbin at Mount Emei, obtaining the essence of the Golden Elixir teachings of Zhongli Quan and Lü Dongbin (collectively known as "Zhong-Lü").

After years of cultivation and practice, he founded the Western School of Internal Alchemy (Neidan Dao). He was a prolific writer, with works including Sanfeng Mizhi (Secret Teachings of Zhang Sanfeng), Daoqiao Tan (Discussions on the Gateway to Dao), Wugen Shu Zhujie (Annotations on "The Rootless Tree"), Houtian Chuanshu (A Narrative Account of Postnatal Qi), Taishang Shisan Jing Zhujie (Annotations on the Thirteen Classics of the Supreme Lord), and Haishan Qiyu (Adventures by the Sea and Mountains). Additionally, he recompiled and published Zhang Sanfeng Xiansheng Quanji (The Complete Works of Master Zhang Sanfeng), which circulated widely. He exerted considerable influence on Taoism during the Qing Dynasty.

(Source: Leshan Xianzhi (Leshan County Annals))