He lived as an occultist-alchemist (方士) on Mount Tiao (條山) in Heng Prefecture (恒州 heng2 zhou1) during Tang Dynasty. By the time of Empress Wu, he claimed to be several hundred years old.
Empress Wu summoned him to leave the mountain, so he feigned death. He is the personification of a white bat. He rides a white donkey backward. Tang Emperor Xuan Zong (唐玄宗) attempted to give him an office with the title of Silvery Blue Guanglu Minister (銀青光祿大夫) ("guanglu minister" is a rank).