Ma Xiaotao

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Ma Xiaotao (马小桃)
Alias(es)	Flame Fiend; Flame Witch
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Shrek Academy Inner Court; Shrek Seven Devils' main team
Occupation/Role	Power Attack System Soul Master; Yan Shaozhe's direct disciple
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 9 (named appearance) 9

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Level 68 Soul Emperor	9	Revealed as a six-ring Power Attack System Soul Emperor during her Evil Fire rampage; her rings are yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, and black. 9
Six-ring Soul Emperor	51, 84	Arrives as Inner Court support against assassins and later suppresses Dai Huabin with her Soul Emperor pressure. 51 84

Background / History

Ma Xiaotao is a highly regarded Shrek Inner Court genius and Yan Shaozhe's direct disciple. Her Phoenix martial soul carries Ultimate Fire, but its Evil Fire repeatedly hindered her cultivation, caused severe pain, and risked driving her into cultivation deviation or madness. Yan Shaozhe's light-attribute power could only offer temporary relief. 11

Her Evil Fire erupts ahead of schedule near Sea God Lake, consuming her sanity and causing her to attack Su Ming indiscriminately. Despite her superior cultivation and elemental advantage, she loses after choosing to fight Su Ming at close range. Su Ming subdues her with Gravity Squeeze and seals the Evil Fire with a Seal Card, leaving her unconscious but with only superficial injuries. 9 10

Yan Shaozhe discovers that Su Ming's metal-attribute power has stabilized the Evil Fire enough that it will no longer obstruct Ma Xiaotao's cultivation. He asks Su Ming to reinforce the seal if it weakens in the future. 11 12

Ma Xiaotao later learns what occurred during her rampage and becomes grateful to Su Ming, recognizing that he resolved a crisis she caused. 52

Appearance

Ma Xiaotao is a tall, slender young woman noted throughout Shrek Academy for her beauty, strength, and imposing presence. Her appearance is commonly associated with fiery red clothing and the intense heat of her Phoenix flames. 10 52 78

• Long, raven-black hair. 61
• Delicate, cold beauty even while unconscious. 10
• Often wears fiery red combat gear or a vivid red dress. 62 78 93
• Her Phoenix True Fire can stain the battlefield crimson and warp the surrounding air with heat. 88

Personality

Ma Xiaotao is proud, direct, competitive, and intensely confident in her strength as a Shrek main-team member. She believes the Shrek Seven Devils should be powerful enough to stand above their peers, and initially considers victory in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament certain. 86

Her temper is famously explosive. She reacts fiercely when Dai Huabin publicly disputes Su Ming's victory, immediately releasing her six soul rings and Soul Emperor pressure before Su Ming and Xuan Zi calm her down. 84

Despite her temper, Ma Xiaotao is neither ungrateful nor unreasonable. She accepts that her Evil Fire incident was her fault, appreciates Su Ming's help, and later compensates him with cultivation resources for their daily sparring. 52 62

The stabilization of her Evil Fire allows her to lower her guard around others. Her behavior around Su Ming becomes increasingly awkward, affectionate, and protective, particularly after witnessing his intimacy with Zhang Lexuan. 61 63 84

Abilities & Skills

Phoenix Martial Soul and Ultimate Fire

Ma Xiaotao possesses a Phoenix martial soul with Ultimate Fire, granting her overwhelming offensive power and aerial mobility. Her flames are powerful enough to rapidly kill Soul Kings caught in their path. 9 52

• Forms phoenix wings for aerial combat and mobility. 9 10
• Uses Phoenix True Fire to launch large-scale aerial assaults. 88
• Defeated two Soul Kings with a simple release of phoenix flame. 52
• Her offensive power is regarded as unmatched among the fighters in the old-and-new Shrek team spar. 88

Phoenix Cloud-Piercing Strike

Her fifth spirit skill condenses Ultimate Fire into a small fire phoenix and launches it as a destructive single-target attack. 9

• Produces heat capable of warping air and scorching nearby vegetation. 9
• Was countered by Su Ming's Golden Mastiff Defense and Golden Mastiff Berserk Body during her rampage. 9

Evil Fire

The Evil Fire within Ma Xiaotao is both the source of her greatest danger and a major restraint on her cultivation. When uncontrolled, it consumes her reason and drives her into a destructive frenzy. 9 11

• Causes severe pain and risks loss of sanity or cultivation deviation. 11
• Initially gives her no distinction between allies and enemies. 9
• Is temporarily stabilized by Su Ming's Seal of Demon Suppression. 10 11
• The seal can require reinforcement if exposed to overwhelming force or violent soul-power circulation. 11 12

Close-Quarters Training

After losing to Su Ming in close combat, Ma Xiaotao regularly spars with him to improve this weakness. 62

• Uses speed and aerial movement to avoid Su Ming's extreme-strength melee attacks. 62
• Brings body-tempering elixirs and high-grade Spirit Master supplements as payment for sparring. 62
• Develops strong battlefield coordination with Su Ming through repeated practice. 88 89

Equipment / Items

• Flying Soul Tool — Used to carry Su Ming while traveling with the Shrek team toward the Mingdou Mountains. 89
• Cultivation resources — Provides Su Ming with body-tempering elixirs and high-grade supplements in exchange for daily sparring. 62

Relationships

• Su Ming — Initially attacked him while consumed by Evil Fire; he subdued her and sealed the Evil Fire. She later becomes grateful, spars with him daily, fights alongside him effectively, and is strongly protective of him. 9 10 52 62 84 89
• Yan Shaozhe — Her direct mentor and the Dean of Shrek's Martial Soul Department. He is deeply concerned about her Evil Fire and seeks Su Ming's continued help in maintaining its seal. 11 12
• Zhang Lexuan — Ma Xiaotao becomes distressed after seeing Zhang Lexuan's intimate relationship with Su Ming. Zhang Lexuan recognizes Ma Xiaotao's affection and reliance toward him. 61 63
• Dai Yueheng — Fellow Shrek main-team member and opposing captain during the old-and-new team spar. Ma Xiaotao and Su Ming defeat him together. 87 88
• Huo Yuhao — Fellow Shrek teammate; his and Ling Luochen's combined bombardment temporarily prevents Ma Xiaotao from breaking through the opposing backline during the spar. 88
• Dai Huabin — She suppresses him with Soul Emperor pressure after he publicly challenges Su Ming's victory. 84

Story Role / Major Arcs

Evil Fire Incident

Ma Xiaotao loses control of her Evil Fire and attacks Su Ming. Her defeat and the subsequent sealing of the Evil Fire remove a long-standing barrier to her cultivation. 9 10 11

Assassination Aftermath

She assists Su Ming's group against assassins, killing two Soul Kings. Afterward, she defends Yan Shaozhe when Su Ming argues that the dean may protect the White Tiger Duke Mansion's interests over Huo Yuhao's safety. 52 53

Sparring Partner

Ma Xiaotao begins visiting Su Ming's courtyard almost daily to train against his close-combat style. Their repeated bouts improve her combat experience and deepen their trust. 62

Reserve-Team Selection

She brings Su Ming to the Shrek Arena and openly celebrates his dominance in the reserve-team selection. When Dai Huabin protests the result, she intervenes on Su Ming's behalf. 78 84

Old-and-New Shrek Team Spar

As a main-team captain, Ma Xiaotao fights alongside Su Ming against Dai Yueheng's side. Their cooperation, enhanced by Huo Yuhao's Spirit Sharing, repeatedly overwhelms the opposing main-team lineup. 87 88 89

Mingdou Mountains Mission

Ma Xiaotao remains close to Su Ming during the journey and mission against the Death God Envoy. She is deeply worried when he acts alone and later reveals the main team's heavy losses from the Evil Soul Master's trap. 89 93

Notable Quotes

“Do you think I'm stupid? Your close-quarters strength is terrifying.” 62

“With us Shrek main team members here, it won't be the reserve team's turn to step onto the stage.” 86

Trivia

• Ma Xiaotao is considered one of the Shrek Inner Court's most popular students because of her beauty and power. 10 78
• Her uncontrolled Evil Fire caused her to underestimate Su Ming by abandoning her aerial advantage for close-range combat. 10 52
• She is known for her dissatisfaction when battles end too quickly or fail to challenge her. 52