Ma Xiaotao

Biodata

Background / History

Ma Xiaotao suffered from an unstable Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul. When her Evil Fire erupted, she lost control and rushed across Sea God Lake, prompting You Jie to confront her with the Dark Red Demon Dragon and his second soul skill, Crimson Hell Gaia. The dragon’s pressure forced her attacking posture into defense and drove the Evil Fire back into her body. 15

The encounter severely traumatized and suppressed her Martial Soul. Elder Zhuang determined that she could be unable to manifest it for at least half a year, while the suppression also prevented another Evil Fire relapse for approximately a year. 16 While unconscious, she experienced terrifying dreams involving the dragons summoned by You Jie and became reluctant to leave her hiding place after awakening. 33

Mu En later determined that You Jie’s dragon-type power had thoroughly suppressed the Evil Fire, potentially keeping it dormant for three to five years even if she trained intensely. He considered periodic suppression by You Jie a viable alternative to seeking the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower or relying on an Ultimate Ice soul master. 34

Personality

Ma Xiaotao was intensely competitive and dissatisfied with any reduction in her cultivation speed. Once the Evil Fire was suppressed, she found her progress intolerably slow despite still being ahead of Dai Yueheng by several levels; she considered deliberately drawing the Evil Fire out again to accelerate her growth. 52

Her recklessness extended to battle. During a sparring match, she forcibly triggered the Evil Fire after being pressured by Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection Sharing, disregarding the danger to nearby teammates. 59 Her behavior ultimately alienated even Zhang Lexuan, who concluded that Ma Xiaotao had brought the consequences upon herself. 61

Abilities & Skills

Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul

Ma Xiaotao’s Martial Soul manifested as an Evil Fire Phoenix and granted exceptionally destructive firepower, but its Evil Fire repeatedly endangered both herself and those around her.

• Could transform her flames into a larger Evil Fire Phoenix when confronting a superior threat. 15
• The Evil Fire substantially accelerated her cultivation, making its suppression feel like a severe loss of progress to her. 52
• An uncontrolled eruption could injure allies across the battlefield; Gongyang Mo and several teammates were harmed when she deliberately triggered it. 59
• Her Evil Fire could potentially lead to degeneration into a true Evil Soul Master after another major eruption, according to Mu En’s warning. 34

Evil Fire Soul Bone Technique

During her final clash with You Jie, Ma Xiaotao concentrated her Evil Fire into her right arm and formed a phoenix of fire in a last attempt to resist the Dark Red Demon Dragon Tyrant. 60

• The technique was negated and destroyed by the Tyrant’s effect.
• Its failure caused Ma Xiaotao’s right arm to explode, destroying the arm’s bones and resulting in the loss of her right-arm soul bone. 60

Relationships

• Yan Shaozhe — Her teacher and fiercely protective guardian; he regarded her as half a daughter and refused to allow her to trigger the Evil Fire again. 16 52
• Mu En — Monitored her condition, concealed the full extent of You Jie’s suppressive effect from Yan Shaozhe, and warned that another eruption could be irreversible. 34
• You Jie — Suppressed her Evil Fire twice through the Dark Red Demon Dragon’s power. Their second confrontation left her critically injured and permanently affected her Martial Soul. 15 60
• Zhang Lexuan — Fellow Inner Court disciple who feared Ma Xiaotao would again trigger the Evil Fire; after the sparring incident, she no longer sympathized with Ma Xiaotao’s actions. 59 61
• Dai Yueheng and the official-team trainees — Her teammates during the training spar. Her deliberate Evil Fire eruption injured Dai Yueheng, Gongyang Mo, and others. 59

Story Role / Major Arcs

First Evil Fire Rampage

Ma Xiaotao escaped containment and lost control of her Evil Fire near Sea God Lake. You Jie subdued her using Crimson Hell Gaia, leaving her Martial Soul traumatized and unable to manifest normally. 15 16

Suppression and Frustration

Following the suppression, Ma Xiaotao’s Evil Fire remained dormant, but her cultivation rate slowed sharply. Though Yan Shaozhe forbade her from risking another relapse, she remained unwilling to accept the slower pace. 34 52

Reserve Team Training Incident

During a sparring match involving Shrek Academy’s official members and reserve trainees, Ma Xiaotao intentionally reactivated the Evil Fire. Her uncontrolled eruption injured several allies, forcing You Jie to take command of the situation. 59

Tyrant’s Sanction

You Jie used Double Tuning to summon the Level 10 Dark Red Demon Dragon Tyrant. The Tyrant destroyed Ma Xiaotao’s right arm and soul bone, suppressed the Evil Fire Phoenix, and prevented her from activating her Martial Soul or soul skills before Mu En intervened. 60

Death

Ma Xiaotao remained in critical condition after the loss of her right arm soul bone and the severe damage to her Martial Soul. She later died when the power of the Dark Red Demon Dragon Tyrant destroyed the Evil Fire Phoenix’s final resistance. 61 98

Trivia

• Mu En considered You Jie’s dragon power a practical long-term solution to Ma Xiaotao’s Evil Fire problem, albeit one likely to leave her psychologically traumatized. 34
• Her removal from official-team training reduced internal conflict: Dai Yueheng no longer had to manage captaincy disputes around her, Ling Luochen no longer needed to account for clashes with her fire, and Xixi no longer feared accidental Evil Fire attacks. 61