Ma Hongjun

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Ma Hongjun (马红俊)
Alias(es)	Fatty; Little Brother Ma
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Shrek Academy
Occupation/Role	Battle Spirit Master; Shrek Academy student
First Appearance	18

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Level 18	19	Possessed Innate Level 9 Soul Power, the Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul, and one yellow Soul Ring.
Level 31	76	His level before entering Flame Mountain’s Ember layer and beginning his rebirth.
Level 36	76 77	Purified his evil fire, fused True Phoenix Fire with Ember Fire, and evolved his Martial Soul into the Ember Sacred Phoenix.
Level 40	84 93	Reached Soul Elder level and awaited a suitable fourth Soul Ring; later declared himself a level-40 Battle Spirit Master against Tang San.

Background

Ma Hongjun’s Martial Soul originally mutated from a grass chicken into the Evil Fire Phoenix, granting him formidable fire affinity but leaving him afflicted by recurring evil fire and uncontrollable desires. His former solution was to vent the fire; Flender believed suppressing it would cause him to explode and die. 19 173

When Chen Lang arrived to acquire and rebuild Shrek Academy, Ma Hongjun initially challenged him, refusing to address a boy of similar age as dean. After Chen Lang displayed four purple Soul Rings as a Soul Ancestor, Ma Hongjun immediately submitted and declared his willingness to become Chen Lang’s “most loyal dog.” 19

Chen Lang convinced him that the Evil Fire Phoenix could become a Sacred Phoenix if he overcame his desires through discipline and willpower. Ma Hongjun accepted a dangerous rebirth path rather than a safer cure, believing it was the only way he could continue following Chen Lang’s footsteps. 19 26

At Flame Mountain, Ma Hongjun released the evil fire he had suppressed for years. He purified it through willpower and his own Soul Power, then willingly fused the Ember layer’s earth fire with his newly awakened True Phoenix Fire. The process raised him from level 31 to level 36 and transformed his Martial Soul into the Ember Sacred Phoenix. 75 76 77

Appearance

Ma Hongjun is notably plump, though his strenuous training gives him a “fat-wrapped muscle” build rather than a purely soft physique. During Shrek Academy’s reconstruction and physical training, he became visibly tanned, much to his annoyance. 25 37

• Eats heavily; Dai Mubai notes that a typical meal includes a pound of rice and five braised pork knuckles. 25
• Was formerly “fair and plump,” but became darker through outdoor labor and training. 25
• His Ember Sacred Phoenix transformation leaves him with crimson-gold flames and a phoenix-and-flame mark on his brow during the fusion process. 76

Personality

Ma Hongjun is initially arrogant, confrontational, and quick to judge opponents by apparent strength. However, he is pragmatic enough to recognize an overwhelming gap in power immediately; after witnessing Chen Lang’s rings, he abandoned his challenge and chose loyalty instead. 19

His loyalty to Chen Lang becomes a central motivation. He regards Chen Lang as the person who gave him a path beyond the Evil Fire Phoenix’s curse, and he repeatedly frames his ambition around becoming strong enough to stand at Chen Lang’s side. 26 77 98

Although often comedic and boastful, he possesses substantial courage and endurance. He chose a potentially lethal Nirvana path, endured the eruption of his evil fire, and later fought through severe injuries against a much stronger opponent rather than retreat. 75 81

Abilities & Skills

Ember Sacred Phoenix Martial Soul

Ma Hongjun’s Evil Fire Phoenix was purified and super-evolved after he fused True Phoenix Fire with Flame Mountain’s Ember Fire. The resulting Ember Sacred Phoenix combines sacred golden flame with violent crimson ember fire. 76 77

• Can passively absorb surrounding fire elements while breathing. 76
• Produces crimson-gold flames with far greater power than his former evil fire. 76
• Is immune to the fire poison present in the Flame Mountain fire vein. 84
• Can damage or reduce the effectiveness of dark-attribute Soul Skills and Soul Beasts. 77
• Has the potential for further evolution through the Phoenix Lord’s remains, Phoenix Clan ruins, or true Nirvana Fire. 173

Sacred Flame Recovery

The Ember Sacred Phoenix greatly improves Ma Hongjun’s endurance and recovery.

• His Soul Power consumption is reduced by more than half. 77
• His recovery speed is doubled. 77
• Sacred flames rapidly seal and heal his wounds, allowing him to sustain a life-for-life combat style. 81
• He can recover while fighting, making prolonged attrition battles especially favorable to him. 77 81

Phoenix Fireline

Ma Hongjun’s first Soul Skill releases concentrated golden-red fire from his mouth. 81 93

• Incinerates Blue Silver Grass bindings and parasite seeds. 93
• Charred Ci Bufan’s blood thorns despite the latter’s superior Soul Power. 81
• Carries sacred, purifying properties in addition to destructive heat. 93

Phoenix Wings

His second Soul Skill manifests the Sacred Phoenix’s wings and launches flame feathers as a barrage. 81 94

• Golden-red flame feathers can penetrate defensive constructs. 81
• Can form a giant phoenix firebird that tears apart Spider Web Restraint. 94
• Creates fiery shockwaves capable of pulverizing incoming hidden weapons. 94

Endless Fire

A high-output flame state used to turn damage and pain into momentum. 81 94

• Melted Ci Bufan’s Blood Thorn Cage from within. 81
• Strengthened his counterattacks while his Sacred Phoenix recovery repaired injuries. 81
• Expanded his flame domain and enabled him to melt or deflect Tang San’s hidden weapons. 94

Flame Turbocharger Pump

A movement technique developed through Chen Lang’s training that converts the explosive force of phoenix flames into sudden speed. 93

• Allowed Ma Hongjun to rapidly close distance on Tang San despite his heavier build. 93
• Functions on a principle compared to a steam engine. 93

Items

• Cock’s Comb Phoenix Sunflower — an immortal-grade medicinal herb carried by Chen Lang as Ma Hongjun’s emergency safeguard during his Nirvana attempt. Ma Hongjun consumed it to neutralize the conflict between True Phoenix Fire and Ember Fire, enabling their fusion. 67 75 77

Relationships

• Chen Lang — Dean, mentor, and the person Ma Hongjun follows most devotedly. Chen Lang guided him away from the Evil Fire Phoenix’s destructive path and supported his rebirth at Flame Mountain. 19 26 75 77
• Dai Mubai — Shrek Academy peer and training partner. Dai initially exposed the gap between them in strength, but they later trained together and fought as close comrades. 19 37 108
• Oscar — Shrek Academy peer. The two train and joke with Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun celebrates Oscar’s progress toward becoming an all-around Soul Master. 25 38 108
• Tang San — Opponent. Ma Hongjun defeated Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass control and hidden weapons with Ember Sacred Phoenix flames; Chen Lang stopped Tang San’s final crossbow-bolt attack. 93 94
• Flender — Former dean of Shrek Academy and Ma Hongjun’s teacher. Flender originally taught that Ma had to vent his evil fire to survive, a view Chen Lang openly rejected. 19
• Fire God — Potential inheritor and evaluator. The Fire God recognized Ma Hongjun’s Phoenix Martial Soul, pure fire affinity, and Nirvana power, while warning that his path remains dangerous. 140 147 173

Story Role / Major Arcs

Joining Chen Lang’s Shrek Academy

Ma Hongjun challenged Chen Lang’s authority upon his arrival at Shrek Academy, then submitted after seeing the latter’s Soul Ancestor cultivation and purple-ring configuration. He became one of Chen Lang’s earliest loyal students during the academy’s reconstruction. 18 19 23

Suppression of the Evil Fire

Following Chen Lang’s guidance, Ma Hongjun used physical exhaustion and deliberate self-control to suppress his evil fire instead of venting it. This initially reduced the frequency of his outbreaks, but Chen Lang warned that suppression alone could not permanently solve the problem. 25 37

Flame Mountain Nirvana

At Flame Mountain’s Ember layer, Ma Hongjun confronted the full eruption of his Evil Fire Phoenix. He purified the evil fire, manifested True Phoenix Fire, and chose to absorb the Ember fire vein rather than retreat. 74 75 76

Ember Sacred Phoenix Evolution

After consuming the Cock’s Comb Phoenix Sunflower, Ma Hongjun successfully fused True Phoenix Fire and Ember Fire. His evolved Martial Soul granted reduced Soul Power consumption, enhanced recovery, dark-attribute resistance, and level-36 cultivation. 76 77

Battles Against Ci Bufan and Tang San

As a Soul Elder, Ma Hongjun defeated rank-48 Soul Ancestor Ci Bufan through overwhelming recovery, sacred flame, and attrition. He later overpowered level-29 Tang San, burning through Blue Silver Grass, spider webs, and hidden weapons before Chen Lang intervened against Tang San’s lethal final attack. 81 93 94

Fire God Inheritance

Ma Hongjun seeks to inherit the Fire God’s God Position so that he can better support Chen Lang. He alone was able to accompany Chen Lang to the Burning Tower’s eighth floor, where the Fire God acknowledged his Phoenix Martial Soul and confirmed that he had passed the initial assessment. 140 147

Notable Quotes

“I want to be a Sacred Phoenix, not an Evil Fire Phoenix! I want to conquer my desires!!!” 19

“My fate is mine to control, not heaven’s! I am destined to become a god!” 75

“I am your master! You are merely my Martial Soul!” 75

“If anyone wants your life, they’ll have to step over my dead body, Ma Hongjun!” 77

Trivia

• Ma Hongjun calls becoming Chen Lang’s “number one lackey” a personal ambition. 98 140
• Before his evolution, he and Dai Mubai fought to a draw despite Ma Hongjun being four ranks lower. 81
• He was the fastest cultivator among Chen Lang’s companions besides Chen Lang himself while training in the Ember layer. 84