Ma Xiaotao

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Ma Xiaotao (马小桃)
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Shrek Academy; Inner Academy
Occupation/Role	Inner Academy disciple; Yan Shaozhe's disciple; Lu Heqiu's caretaker
Martial Soul	Evil Fire Phoenix
Cultivation	Soul Emperor at the time Lu Heqiu is brought to Shrek Academy 2
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Soul Emperor	2	Can briefly glide through the air with her Martial Soul, though not at a Soul Saint's flight speed.
Soul Power increased by one level	24	Her daily proximity to Lu Heqiu during his studies and cultivation contributes to a full-level increase in Soul Power.

Background / History

Ma Xiaotao and Cai Meier find the infant Lu Heqiu in the inner region of the Star Dou Great Forest. Because he refuses to leave her and will not allow others to hold him, she brings him to Shrek Academy and reluctantly becomes his temporary caretaker. Yan Shaozhe later accepts the academy's adoption of the child. 1 2

Her early childcare efforts are improvised: she obtains Sabertooth Tiger beast milk from Gong Changlong and has the Soul Tool Department make a suitable feeding bottle. Though initially determined to send Lu Heqiu to someone else, she becomes increasingly attentive to his safety and needs. 2 3 4

Ma Xiaotao discovers that remaining near Lu Heqiu suppresses the Evil Fire in her Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul. Moving roughly ten meters away causes the fire to surge dangerously, while returning to his side immediately suppresses it. She brings this discovery to Yan Shaozhe, who confirms that the effect is genuine. 4 5

When Lu Heqiu journeys to the Star Dou Great Forest to seek his first Soul Ring, Ma Xiaotao accompanies him under the protection of Mu En, Xuan Zi, and Yan Shaozhe. She remains concerned about his attempt to obtain an exceptionally dangerous Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring and is entrusted with his safety during the confrontation with the Azure Blood Dragon Beast. 10 11 13

After Lu Heqiu breaks his first seal, the range of his suppressive influence shrinks from fifteen meters to less than five. Ma Xiaotao realizes that resolving her Evil Fire problem has become urgent, since she can no longer comfortably remain far from him. 18

Appearance

Ma Xiaotao is a young woman who commonly wears red and carries herself with a striking, fiery presence. Her appearance is associated with the color and temperament of her phoenix Martial Soul. 1

• Red dress, sometimes paired with a light-red veil that obscures her face. 1
• Pink eyes described as captivating. 1
• Her face visibly reddens easily when embarrassed by Lu Heqiu's unexpected behavior. 4 8 11

Personality

Ma Xiaotao is direct, impatient, and quick to act. Yan Shaozhe repeatedly criticizes her rashness, including when she rushes to report Lu Heqiu's suppressive effect after testing it only once. 5

Despite her initial frustration at being assigned an infant's care, she is fiercely protective of Lu Heqiu. She strikes Dai Yueheng for attempting to test the sleeping child's strength, secures food for him, accompanies him through daily lessons, and worries about his safety during the soul-ring hunt. 2 3 10 24

She also has a playful and provocative streak. She repeatedly urges Lu Heqiu to confront Dai Yueheng, partly to punish Dai for underestimating him and partly to show off the child she cares for. 20 21 23

Her dependence on Lu Heqiu's suppression does not make her passive. Once she understands that his range will diminish as his seals break, she resolves to cultivate faster and find a permanent solution to her Evil Fire. 18 19

Abilities & Skills

Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul

Ma Xiaotao possesses the Evil Fire Phoenix, a powerful Phoenix-type Martial Soul whose innate Evil Fire threatens her sanity when it erupts.

• The Evil Fire originates from the essence of her Martial Soul rather than an external source. 5
• Its outbreaks ordinarily require suppression by Sea God Pavilion elders or Titled Douluo-level experts. 4
• Shrek Academy has used Thousand-Year Ice Marrow and items close to Extreme Ice to suppress the condition, while also seeking Immortal Herbs as a potential permanent cure. 5
• Lu Heqiu's overflowing sealing power suppresses both the Evil Fire and aspects of her Martial Soul and soul-skill use while she is nearby. 5 6
• After Lu Heqiu begins cultivating, the surrounding spiritual energy he gathers allows her cultivation speed to exceed her normal rate by more than double. 19

Aerial Mobility

As a Soul Emperor, Ma Xiaotao can use her Martial Soul to glide and travel through the air.

• Her airborne movement is faster than that of an ordinary Soul Emperor. 2
• She frequently carries Lu Heqiu while traveling within Shrek Academy and during the expedition to the Star Dou Great Forest. 2 11 18

Combat Ability

Ma Xiaotao is regarded as one of Shrek's rare elite geniuses and is a prominent Inner Academy disciple.

• Yan Shaozhe considers her a top Shrek talent who appears only once in several hundred years. 1
• She states that her usual win rate against Dai Yueheng is approximately seventy-thirty in her favor, though he can defeat her if she is careless. 21
• Her cultivation is impeded by the Evil Fire, making its suppression central to her future potential. She believes freedom from it could allow her to pursue the Extreme Douluo realm. 5

Relationships

• Lu Heqiu — His finder and primary caretaker at Shrek Academy. His proximity suppresses her Evil Fire, while his cultivation substantially accelerates hers; their practical need to remain close becomes a major concern for her. 1 5 18 19
• Yan Shaozhe — Her teacher and the dean who entrusts her with Lu Heqiu's temporary care. He frequently tempers her impulsiveness and later recognizes Lu Heqiu as his own disciple. 2 5 20 23
• Cai Meier — Accompanied Ma Xiaotao when Lu Heqiu was found in the Star Dou Great Forest and examined the infant before he was brought to the academy. 1
• Dai Yueheng — Fellow Inner Academy disciple and frequent target of her teasing. She scolds him for testing Lu Heqiu, then orchestrates Lu Heqiu's duel against him to teach him a lesson. 2 20 21 23
• Ling Luochen — Fellow Inner Academy disciple who questions Lu Heqiu's extraordinary growth and debates Ma Xiaotao over whether he can defeat Dai Yueheng. 20 22
• Gong Changlong — Provides Sabertooth Tiger milk when Ma Xiaotao needs food for Lu Heqiu; later becomes one of Lu Heqiu's instructors. 2 3 19
• Mu En — Sea God Pavilion Master who values both Ma Xiaotao and Lu Heqiu, and permits her presence during the investigation into Lu Heqiu despite normal Sea God Pavilion restrictions. 7 11

Story Role / Major Arcs

Finding and Raising Lu Heqiu

Ma Xiaotao introduces Lu Heqiu to Shrek Academy after finding him in the Star Dou Great Forest. Although she initially resists becoming a caretaker, the infant's attachment to her and his refusal to be held by others leave her responsible for him. 1 2

Discovery of the Evil Fire Suppression

Her attempt to leave Lu Heqiu reveals that his presence suppresses her dangerous Evil Fire. The discovery changes her view of caring for him, turning an unwanted responsibility into a vital bond that may determine whether she can overcome her Martial Soul's flaw. 4 5

First Soul Ring Expedition

Ma Xiaotao accompanies Lu Heqiu into the Star Dou Great Forest as he pursues the Azure Blood Dragon Beast's Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring. She supports him throughout the expedition and is kept close for both his safety and the stability of her Evil Fire. 10 11 13 15

Inner Academy Life

After Lu Heqiu returns to Shrek, Ma Xiaotao remains at his side during his lessons with Gong Changlong, Fan Yu, and Su Qingzhu. She also brings him to meet the Inner Academy disciples and pushes him into a public duel with Dai Yueheng, proud of his strength even when Yan Shaozhe reprimands her for it. 20 21 23 24

Notable Quotes

“This little fellow... can help me suppress the evil fire within me!” 5

“I need to hurry!” 18