Ma Xiaotao

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Ma Xiaotao (马小桃) 87
Alias(es)	“Flame Madman” 2
Gender	Female
Age	18 at her breakthrough to Soul Sage 80
Affiliation	Shrek Academy Inner Court; traditional Spirit Department; Holy Spirit Cult Saint 23 100
Occupation/Role	Assault-type Battle Soul Master; Shrek Academy’s Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament main-team member 87
Martial Soul	Evil Fire Phoenix 87
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Soul King	8	Joined an Inner Court soul-hunting expedition as one of its Soul King-level members and was assigned to guard the flank. 8 9
Soul Sage	80	Broke through after seclusion, becoming an eighteen-year-old Soul Sage and drawing the attention of Sea God Island’s elders. 80
Seventh Soul Ring	85	Obtained a seventh ring from a 65,000-year Flamebird, along with its right-arm soul bone. 85
Rank 73 Battle Soul Sage	87	Publicly introduced herself to Shrek’s reserve team at Rank 73. 87

Background

Ma Xiaotao grew up alongside Mu Guiyun despite their five-year age difference, making them childhood sweethearts. Yan Shaozhe is both her foster father and teacher, while Cai Mei’er serves as her foster mother. 2 3

Before Mu Guiyun awakened his martial soul, Ma Xiaotao was one of Shrek Academy’s foremost young talents, surpassed only by Zhang Lexuan. Her cultivation was hindered by the Evil Fire within her Phoenix martial soul, which became increasingly volatile as she grew older. 3

During the Star Dou Great Forest expedition, Ma Xiaotao’s Evil Fire was temporarily suppressed after she was frozen, allowing her to enter seclusion and cultivate without its usual restraint. 19 23 Mu Guiyun’s later awakening of Ultimate Ice gave her a more direct means to calm the Evil Fire and renewed her hope of evolving her martial soul into a true Fire Phoenix. 56

Appearance

Ma Xiaotao is a red-haired soul master whose presence is closely associated with intense phoenix flames. Her Martial Soul Possession manifests prominent flaming phoenix wings, and her golden eyes can take on a dangerous intensity when angered. 1 29 80

• Fiery red hair worn loose over her shoulders. 1
• Bright golden eyes. 29
• Flaming phoenix wings while flying or fighting. 80 90
• Often wears red robes outside combat. 56

Personality

Ma Xiaotao is impulsive, proud, and easily provoked, traits that earned her the Inner Court nickname “Flame Madman.” She reacts fiercely to insults and has little patience for anyone she believes is challenging her place beside Mu Guiyun. 2 12 29

She is also famously gluttonous; Mu Guiyun notes that she had been Shrek Outer Court’s biggest eater since her second year. 2 Beneath her temper, she is deeply protective of the people she loves. She defended Mu Guiyun from Wu Ming’s teasing, trusted him with her life during the Moon-Eroding Wolf Emperor battle, and was distraught when he fell unconscious afterward. 8 15 18

Her jealousy toward Zhang Lexuan, Tang Ya, and Xu Jiujiu is overt, but she can ultimately listen to Mu Guiyun’s explanations and rein in her emotions when necessary. 12 88 106

Abilities & Skills

Evil Fire Phoenix

Ma Xiaotao possesses the Evil Fire Phoenix, a powerful assault-type martial soul specializing in overwhelming firepower and aerial combat. At Rank 73, she displayed seven soul rings in an optimal yellow-yellow-purple-purple-black-black-black configuration. 87 94

• Her Phoenix Flame can approach Ultimate Fire temperatures when enhanced by her abilities and Gongyang Mo’s support. 90
• She can fly through phoenix wings and uses aerial superiority as a major combat advantage. 80 90
• Her Evil Fire substantially increases her offensive threat but can become unstable and harm her control over her own power. 3 29
• Her long-term goal is to resolve the Evil Fire completely and evolve into an Ultimate Fire soul master. 56 91

Phoenix Roaring Heaven Strike

A high-powered phoenix-flame attack used against the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear during the Star Dou Great Forest expedition. 10

• Delivered from the air to exploit her flight advantage. 10
• Was described as her strongest attack soul skill at the time. 10

Bathed-in-Fire Phoenix and Phoenix Soaring to the Heavens

A combination of enhancement and flight skills used when Ma Xiaotao launched herself toward the Moon-Eroding Wolf Emperor. 15

• Greatly amplifies her speed and phoenix flames. 15
• Allowed her to commit to a seemingly suicidal charge because she trusted Mu Guiyun to save her with Space Displacement. 15

Phoenix Meteor Shower

A devastating area-of-effect skill unleashed through one of her ten-thousand-year soul rings. 94

• Summons massive fireballs that descend over a wide area. 94
• Defeated all seven members of Heavenly Spirit Advanced Soul Master Academy in a single match. 94

Flame Jet

A mobility skill provided by Ma Xiaotao’s left and right leg soul bones. 15

• Produces explosive bursts of flame for acceleration and aerial movement. 15
• Was used during her attack on the Moon-Eroding Wolf Emperor. 15

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Black Emperor Star — A black ring inset with a ruby, given to Ma Xiaotao by Mu Guiyun. 3
• Flamebird Right-Arm Soul Bone — Obtained alongside her seventh soul ring from a 65,000-year Flamebird. 85
• Blazing Fire Golden Crow Torso Bone — A ninety-thousand-year torso bone purchased by Mu Guiyun for forty million Gold Soul Coins; Ma Xiaotao later completed its absorption. 104 106
• Invincible Soul Guidance Barrier — A Class 7 triggered Soul Tool gifted to her by Xian Lin’er before Shrek’s match against Star Luo National Academy. 114

Relationships

• Mu Guiyun — Childhood sweetheart and romantic partner. Ma Xiaotao is intensely protective and possessive of him, while he supports her cultivation and pursuit of martial-soul evolution. 2 56 80 91
• Yan Shaozhe — Foster father and teacher; Ma Xiaotao hoped Mu Guiyun would join Yan Shaozhe’s Spirit Department. 2
• Cai Mei’er — Foster mother who supports Ma Xiaotao’s relationship with Mu Guiyun. 3
• Wu Ming — Close Inner Court friend and frequent sparring partner; despite their arguments, they are genuine friends. 8 10
• Zhang Lexuan — Rival in Ma Xiaotao’s affections for Mu Guiyun; their conflict became especially visible during the Star Dou expedition. 11 12
• Tang Ya — Romantic rival for Mu Guiyun’s attention. Their relationship is openly hostile at first, though they later cooperate to deter women seeking Mu Guiyun. 87 88 100
• Ling Luochen — Former Outer Court classmate with whom Ma Xiaotao has a longstanding mutual dislike, partly stemming from their conflicting fire and ice attributes. 80 108
• Xian Lin’er — Shrek dean who provided Ma Xiaotao with the Invincible Soul Guidance Barrier. 114

Story Role / Major Arcs

Star Dou Great Forest Expedition

Ma Xiaotao joined the Inner Court soul-hunting party headed for the Star Dou Great Forest, where she served as a flank guard. 8 9 She attacked the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear with Phoenix Roaring Heaven Strike and later followed Mu Guiyun’s plan against the Moon-Eroding Wolf Emperor without hesitation, trusting him to displace her from the beast’s killing blow. 10 15

Evil Fire Suppression and Seclusion

The freezing effects encountered during the expedition temporarily eased Ma Xiaotao’s Evil Fire, enabling a period of intensive secluded cultivation. 19 23 After Mu Guiyun returned with Ultimate Ice, he demonstrated that his power could directly suppress her unstable flames and potentially help evolve her martial soul. 56

Soul Sage Breakthrough

Ma Xiaotao emerged from seclusion as a Soul Sage, releasing a pillar of scarlet fire powerful enough to alarm multiple Sea God Island elders. 80 Her breakthrough made her an eighteen-year-old Soul Sage and established her as an unprecedented talent among tournament-age competitors. 80 86

Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament

As a member of Shrek Academy’s main team, Ma Xiaotao revealed herself as a Rank 73 Battle Soul Sage to the reserve team. 87 In Shrek’s opening tournament match, she faced Heavenly Spirit Advanced Soul Master Academy alone and defeated all seven opponents with Phoenix Meteor Shower. 94

She continued to lead many of Shrek’s round-robin battles so decisively that Mu Guiyun had little opportunity to fight. 95 Before the upcoming match against Star Luo National Academy, Xian Lin’er entrusted her with a Class 7 Invincible Soul Guidance Barrier. 114