| | Ma Mingsheng was a native of Linzi, Qi Guo; his original surname was Xing, courtesy name Junxian. He was young and served as a county official, but while pursuing bandits he was injured by them. At that time, he died temporarily and was saved by a Daoist priest's miraculous medicine; thus, he revived and immediately resigned from his post to follow the master. Initially, he only wanted to receive treatment for his wound, but upon learning that the master possessed the Way of eternal life, he then served him for a long time and followed his teacher with books in hand. He went west to Nüji Mountain, north to Xuanqiu Mountain, and south along Lujiang River; he traveled all over the world, enduring every hardship with diligence. He then received three volumes of the Taqing Shendan Jing (Scriptures of the Divine Pills of Great Clarity). Upon returning, he went into the mountains to prepare the medicine and took it. He was not eager to ascend to heaven, so he only took half a dose, thereby becoming an earth immortal. He would never stay in one place for more than three years but would always move elsewhere; people sometimes did not know that he was an immortal. He built houses, kept servants and attendants, rode in carriages and horses, and differed no more from ordinary people. In this manner, he traveled around the Nine Provinces for over five hundred years; many people recognized him and were amazed that he did not grow old. Later, he refined the great cinnabar elixir and ascended to heaven during the day.
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