Levels 13–24 · 陰神 · yin shen
The Yin Shen and Separation
The band in which the sources place the formation and projection of the yin shen — a "spirit body" that can travel and perceive but cannot act on matter. Danaos is explicit that this is a lesser achievement than the yang shen and that mistaking one for the other is a classic and costly error.
This band division is editorial. The sources do not group the levels above 4; this grouping follows the classical jing–qi–shen–xu progression to make the claimed path legible.
Core practice
Presumed: work shifts from the lower dan tien to the middle and upper ones.
Testing
Unknown.
Classical stage
Qi → Shen (energy refined into spirit)
Time
Unknown
Levels in this band
13
Turning Inward
Attention relocates from the lower dan tien to the middle.
reconstructed
14
The Middle Cauldron
Work in the middle dan tien; the emotional body is implicated.
reconstructed
15
Clearing the Heart
The classical requirement that shen cannot be refined in an agitated heart.
reconstructed
16
The Upper Field
Attention reaches the upper dan tien, between the brows.
reconstructed
17
Opening the Cavity
The "cavity of the spirit" is worked.
reconstructed
18
The Three Fields United
Lower, middle and upper dan tien function as one circuit.
reconstructed
19
The Silent Furnace
Accumulation continues without conscious effort.
reconstructed
20
First Separation
Brief, uncontrolled departures of the spirit from the body.
reconstructed
21
Return
Learning to come back reliably.
reconstructed
22
Extending the Range
The separated spirit travels further and holds longer.
reconstructed
23
Coherence Abroad
The travelling spirit retains full waking intelligence.
reconstructed
24
Full Projection of the Yin Shen
陰神出竅 · yin shen chu qiao
The spirit body separates and travels — but cannot touch the world.
fragmentary