Mannequin of Reflection

"I don't know, teacher, this doesn't look like a heaven-grade treasure to me." 

<<You should know that in our world, the outward appearance of someone or something can be deceiving. Just do as I have instructed.>>

Xiao cupped her chin in a thinking pose as she scrutinized the treasure sitting in her bed. It was  but a lifeless doll, featureless and made out of wood. She can make a tree fall with a single strike, how was this brittle looking doll going to help increase her cultivation level?

As per her master's instruction, Xiao plucked a single strand of her hair and tied it to the doll's wrist. Her open palm found its way to the doll's core, its chest. After infusing some of her qi into it, the answer became clear…

The formof the doll became hazy, as if turning into a mirage, right before it took on the appearance of Xiao herself. All except for the clothes and mask. 

"What the hell is this!? Why does it look exactly like me!?" 

Xiao didn't know whether to be amazed or freaked out. Maybe a bit of both? Her hands traveled along the catatonic doll's features, from pinching its muscles to brushing its hair.

<<It is an invention of a dear friend of mine. Not only does that doll have your appearance, it also has your cultivation level.  She named it "Mannequin of Reflection"...>> Zhen's proud explanation of her dear friend's ingenuity was put to a halt. Her imaginary forehead creased as she raised her voice inside of her student's mind. <<Stop feeling its breast! That's your own breast! Hit it so you could start your training!>>

"Like you said, this is my breast, I think I'm free to do with it as much as I please. I was only curious why Lin wanted to squeeze them so much whenever we would make love."

They weren't that big but just ample enough for her hands to feel their fleshy softness as she squeezed them. I guess you could say that it was the answer. Or maybe Lin was someone who was into breasts.

<<By the heavens, if you start laying with that doll I will not let you use it again! That is for training, now get to it!>>

Xiao laughed at her teacher's hysterics. There was no way she would have sex with a doll that looks exactly like her. That's like masturbation taken to the extreme.

Following her master's suggestion to start her training, Xiao went to her closet and rummaged for clothes. There was no way she was going to fight a version of herself stark naked.

Soon, the doll sitting on her bed was now wearing the same disciple robe as she is. What did her master say again? Oh right, she only needed to hit it for it to activate.

Taking her basic Baji Quan stance, Xiao's right fist was pulled back while her left was presented upwards to guard against attacks. A style emphasizing short and explosive blows using your fists, elbows, and kicks. Once mastered, a powerful cultivator can make quick work of their opponent with this martial art. 

Since the doll didn't respond, she could only guess that the trigger was for her to release her own attack first. She could only hope that this doll would live up to her expectations since her teacher hyped it up so much.

Xiao exhaled. 

Her fist was let loose, aimed towards the doll's head. Although she was holding back a bit, its power was still enough to punch through walls. 

Well well, the doll certainly does live up to the hype. In the blink of an eye, the doll had taken a stance similar to hers, meaning that her fist was successfully deflected by the doll's left arm. 

Her amazement soon turned to panic as she realized she was open for a counter with her fist extended. 

(Ah, crap. This is bad, I better pull back and…)

Mid thoughts, the doll moved with blinding speed, the doll's guard transitioned into an explosive elbow into Xiao's abdomen. 

Luckily, Xiao possessed the same speed. She raised her knee to block, forcing her to stagger backwards. Ironically, she was able to pull back as she had intended. 

<<Like I said, that doll has your current cultivation base and it knows all of your techniques. Try to kill it and it will return the favor in kind. Quite amazing, is it not?>>

"Yeah, it is amazing, you can turn this into a weapon!"

<<I suggested that, but the maker of that doll made it for the sole purpose of training alone. As you can see, it responds only to hostility and has no will of its own. Another thing is that it cannot increase its cultivation level.>>

Given time, your cultivation level would increase naturally, although at a snail's pace. What accelerates the process is pushing yourself beyond your limit. And what better way to do that than a brush with death? A fight where two cultivators put their very lives on the line.

Yet there is a contradiction, for in order to benefit from the stars you've unlocked through battle, you would need to be ALIVE. The Mannequin of reflection bypasses this, if you strike it with the intent to kill, it will throw the technique you used right back at you in full force, down to every bit of qi you used on your attack. It shows no self-preservation, no mercy either, for it is a doll.

Xiao took her stance once more, her feet slowly inched in. She will not be fooled again by its impassiveness, for it only needed to sense the intent of her attack and it will exhibit vigor like that of a real human being. 

But before she could, completely close in, a knock on her door shifted her focus.

"Elder, are you there?"

It was Fang Xuan.

"I am. Come on in."

The look of astonishment on his eyes were apparent as he opened the door, for right next to their elder Xiao was another woman wearing their sect robe.

"Wha- who is that!? 

A mischievous smile appeared on Xiao's lips. Since Fang Xuan was so adamant on participating in the tournament, he could consider this an impromptu training. Oh, who was she kidding, in reality Xiao only wanted to pull a prank.

"I will tell you the answer, but first, I want you to hit her."

"But why? She seems a bit, I don't know, out of it?" Fang Xuan waved his hand over the mannequin's eyes, confirming its lifelessness. He hasn't known their elder that long, but he didn't strike her as someone who would order him to strike a person out of the blue.

"Consider this part of your training. If you land a hit on her I will reward you with a treasure."

Training and treasure, that was all it took for Fang Xuan's blood to flow with gusto. What a kind elder, with how unresponsive the woman was, the treasure was basically a freebie! Fang Xuan needed no stance, he simply went for a punch without any power behind since he still felt bad at striking an unresponsive target.

Although he wasn't aware, this benefited Fang Xuan more than the recipient of his fist. A fist that would never land.

Light flashed before his eyes.

It all happened too fast. Where was he? What day was it today? These were the questions that plagued him as he stared at absolute darkness.

Right above the Mannequin whose right leg was raised in a kick split, was Fang Xuan, sticking into the ceiling.

<<Tsk Tsk. What an unscrupulous elder you are.>>

Xiao only found it funny for a second, before worry and remorse kicked in. Her teacher was right, her prank might've been a little too overboard.

Nonetheless, Fang Xuan was still a cultivator. He was able to remove himself from the comical position before Xiao could help him. He shaked his head as if shaking off his daze.

Then, Fang Xuan cupped his hands towards his elder in reverence, "Thank you for the training, Elder Xiao. It appears that this one is still not worthy of the treasure."

Now she feels even worse for tricking him.

"No, my true training was for you to survive a hit from her. I'll reward you with the treasure soon. By the way, what was your reason for coming into my room?"

"You have a visitor waiting for you at the garden, she said her name was Yanmei."