Ma Hongjun

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Ma Hongjun (马红俊)
Alias(es)	Xiao Pang; Light Phoenix
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Shrek Academy
Occupation/Role	Shrek Academy student; Flender's personal disciple; Soul Master
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 12

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Innate Soul Power Level 9.5	13	Awakened the Evil Fire Phoenix; the martial soul's defect prevented Innate Full Soul Power.
Level 10	16	Broke through after his first Evil Fire backlash, which stimulated his potential.
Level 12	19	Absorbed a 400-year Dawn Light Spirit Crane as his first soul ring and gained Phoenix Holy Light Strike.
Level 14	33	Had reached this level shortly before the next Evil Fire surge.
Level 15	34	Advanced amid the crisis after Fu Wen suppressed the Evil Fire with Water Power, Primordial Bite, and Flow-Severing.
Level 18	59	Reached Level 18 after a year of training, improved aerial control, and continued suppression of the Evil Fire.
Rank 30 / Soul Elder	65	Broke through to the third-ring realm after two further years of training.
Third Soul Ring	67	Absorbed an 1,800-year Sacred Light Luan ring and awakened Luan-Phoenix Harmony.
Level 41 / Soul Ancestor	73	Returned from three years of bounty hunting as one of the four Level 41 Soul Ancestors.

Background

Ma Hongjun was born in Grass Chicken Village and was raised by his uncle, Village Chief Ma. At six years old, he awakened the Evil Fire Phoenix, a top-tier beast martial soul. The awakening shattered the Awakening Stone, turned his hair red, manifested fiery wings, and produced a phoenix phantom behind him. His innate soul power was Level 9.5. 12 13

Flender identified the Evil Fire Phoenix's dangerous defect: evil energy within its flames could affect Ma Hongjun's body and behavior if left uncontrolled. Frightened by the revelation, Ma Hongjun accepted Flender's offer to become his personal disciple and enrolled at Shrek Academy with free tuition, board, and lodging. 13 14

His first attempts at meditation triggered an uncontrolled Evil Fire backlash. He lost reason, launched fireballs across the academy grounds, and set structures and the playground ablaze. Fu Wen initially tried to cool and suppress the flames, then absorbed some of the violent energy into himself until Flender arrived to end the crisis. 14 15

The backlash pushed Ma Hongjun to Level 10. To address the problem at its source, Flender's group selected a light-attribute Dawn Light Spirit Crane for his first soul ring rather than a fire-attribute beast. 16 17

Appearance

Ma Hongjun was initially a short, round, and plump child with a round face and round eyes, often described as looking like a little meatball. By the time Dai Mubai arrived at Shrek, he had grown taller, slimmed down, and developed more defined features and a trace of heroic bearing. 12 65

• His hair turns red like burning flames when his martial soul manifests. 13
• His Evil Fire Phoenix manifestation produces nonphysical wings formed from fire. 13
• His eyes can turn crimson with flames burning in the pupils during an Evil Fire backlash. 14 34
• His first soul skill produces golden Light Feathers and red-gold phoenix flames. 19 27

Personality

Ma Hongjun is energetic, expressive, and food-loving. He is quick to celebrate victories, loudly asks Shao Xin for extra dishes upon returning from expeditions, and eagerly suggests exploring Suotuo City for grilled meat. 33 58

Despite his carefree behavior, he is diligent when given clear direction. After accidentally burning the academy, he conscientiously stabilized his Level 10 foundation; later, he repeatedly drilled the control and equal power distribution of his Light Feathers under Fu Wen's guidance. 17 27 28

He is also resilient under pain and fear. He endured the conflicting light and Evil Fire energies of his first spirit-ring absorption without crying out, and the experience of repeatedly losing control made him determined to train harder and eventually protect Fu Wen in return. 18 19 34 35

Abilities & Skills

Evil Fire Phoenix

Ma Hongjun's martial soul is a top-tier beast martial soul with phoenix characteristics. Its flame contains impure evil energy, giving it considerable destructive power but creating the risk of violent backlash. 13 14

• Manifests a fiery phoenix phantom and fire wings. 13
• Allows the release of destructive flames and supports ranged feather attacks. 14 19
• The Evil Fire can overwhelm his reason, endanger his life, and reject ordinary external suppression. 14 15 34
• Light-attribute soul rings and purification effects are used to counterbalance the defect. 17 19 67

Phoenix Holy Light Strike

His first soul skill came from a 400-year Dawn Light Spirit Crane. It turns the Evil Fire Phoenix's wings into numerous golden Light Feathers that bombard targets with explosive force and purification power. 19

• Fires volleys of golden Light Feathers over a wide area. 19
• Produces explosions capable of blasting craters into the ground and defeating one-ring arena opponents before they can close in. 19 54
• Purifies the surrounding air and helps stabilize the Evil Fire within Ma Hongjun. 19 22
• Its effectiveness depends on accuracy and even soul-power distribution; early volleys varied greatly in strength. 22 27
• Through training, he learned to control groups of three and then four feathers with equal force. 28

Luan-Phoenix Harmony

His third soul skill was obtained from an 1,800-year Sacred Light Luan. It adds pale golden radiance to his phoenix flames and releases a large-scale wave of purifying light. 67

• Dispels negative conditions and sinister energy over a broad area. 67
• Further suppresses the Evil Fire, preventing another backlash for a period of time. 67
• Does not remove the need for caution; Flender continues to treat the Evil Fire as a long-term danger. 67

Close-Quarters Training

Although primarily a ranged attacker, Ma Hongjun underwent hand-to-hand training to address his weakness against enemies who close the distance. 63 64

• Improved his reaction speed under pressure through Flender's direct sparring. 64
• Was repeatedly knocked down during training but gradually endured longer in each exchange. 64

Relationships

• Flender — Master and personal mentor. Flender recruited him from Grass Chicken Village, promised to resolve the Evil Fire defect, and personally guides his cultivation and soul-ring hunts. 13 14 18
• Fu Wen — Fellow disciple and “Brother Wen.” Fu Wen repeatedly risks himself to suppress Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire, teaches him Light Feather control, and receives Ma Hongjun's vow of future protection. 15 27 28 34
• Oscar — Fellow Shrek student, close friend, and partner in the Flying Phoenix Team. They banter, train together, and support one another during arena battles. 17 49 57
• Ning Rongrong — Teammate who helps him with laundry and supports him in battle; she buffed him during the Flying Phoenix Team's match. 46 57
• Village Chief Ma — His uncle and guardian in Grass Chicken Village. He was proud of Ma Hongjun's phoenix martial soul and entrusted him to Flender. 12 13
• Dai Mubai — Fellow Shrek student and combat teammate. They fought together during missions and accompanied one another on soul-beast hunts. 66 71

Story Role / Major Arcs

Awakening and Entry into Shrek

Ma Hongjun awakens the Evil Fire Phoenix in Grass Chicken Village, learns of its flaw, and becomes Flender's direct disciple. His first backlash establishes the Evil Fire as his defining personal crisis. 13 15

First Soul Ring and Evil Fire Suppression

He hunts and kills a 400-year Dawn Light Spirit Crane, absorbs its ring, and receives Phoenix Holy Light Strike. The skill's purification effect gives him a means to restrain the Evil Fire, though later events show the solution is incomplete. 18 19 33

Training and Great Soul Arena

Under Fu Wen's guidance, Ma Hongjun refines his Light Feather accuracy and power control. At the Great Soul Arena, he wins his first solo match as Light Phoenix and forms the Flying Phoenix Team with Oscar. 27 28 54 56

Third Ring Hunt

After reaching Rank 30, he obtains an 1,800-year Sacred Light Luan soul ring. Luan-Phoenix Harmony grants powerful purification and suppresses the Evil Fire more thoroughly than his first ring. 65 67

Bounty-Hunting Years

Ma Hongjun joins the Shrek team on missions against spirit beasts and Fallen Soul Masters. After three years of bounty hunting, he returns to Shrek as a Level 41 Soul Ancestor. 71 72 73

Trivia

• His hometown's name, Grass Chicken Village, prompts his own initial confusion over whether a phoenix is “just a chicken.” 13
• His arena codename is Light Phoenix. 54
• He initially struggled to control Oscar's Flying Sausage flight and crashed headfirst into a treetop. 22