Xi Fu was a native of Yong, Nanjun. He lived in the mountains, and there was an immortal who often stayed at his home. Following him to buy melons, the immortal taught him how to refine melon seeds using cassia seed and angelica root — classic herbs in the Taoist longevity tradition — which were stored together and then divided equally for consumption. This practice reflects the core of Taoist inner cultivation, where dietary refinement transforms the body over time. After more than twenty years, he was able to fly and run like a Taoist immortal, ascending mountains and entering water. More than a hundred years later, he lived on the summit of an isolated mountain, calling down to the elders and fathers in the valley below, telling them about events from his life.

What did Xi Fu desire? He desired to dwell in a secluded valley. Below, it overlooks clear streams; above, it is shaded by dense vegetation. The immortal left him behind and guided him with secret inscriptions and sacred writings, his form cut off from dust, his heart remaining in the old customs.