Ma Hongjun

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Ma Hongjun (马红俊)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Ye Family; follows Ye Ruilin
Occupation/Role	Spirit Master; Ye Family competition participant
First Appearance	Chapter 15

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Innate Soul Power Level 8	17	Awakened a top-tier Evil Fire Phoenix martial soul and tested at level 8 innate soul power.
Spirit Master	18	Officially became a Spirit Master after three days of cultivation under Ye Ruilin and Old Wu.
Soul Power Level 10	19	Reached level 10 after half a month of cultivating the Nine Heavens Burning Fire Art.
First Spirit Ring	27	Absorbed the over-500-year Blazing Lion King ring after enduring its residual will; gained Blazing Roar and extended his flight duration to fifteen seconds.
Vermilion Bird evolution	36	His Evil Fire Phoenix evolved toward the divine beast Vermilion Bird after the immortal herb and Ye Ruilin's Ultimate Fire stimulated its potential.
Rooster Constellation Power	60	Absorbed the energy of a Golden Feather Falcon spirit bone, activated his Vermilion Bird bloodline, and mastered Rooster Thunder-Cry.
Soul Power Level 23	69	Had mastered two portions of Constellation Power and developed formidable physical strength through blood-energy arts.
Soul Power Level 25	119	Reached level 25 after absorbing the 60,000-year Scarlet Flame Demon Ape spirit bone; gained Scarlet Flame Mountain-Crushing Fist.
Soul Power Level 30	144	Broke through to level 30 and became ready to obtain his third spirit ring.
Soul Power Level 31 / Third Spirit Ring	146	Absorbed the Infernal Prison Demon Lion ring and obtained Fire Wing Impact.

Background

Ma Hongjun was raised in impoverished Ma Village, where most residents awakened Grass Chicken or goose martial souls. Thin and underfed, he initially agreed to attend the martial-soul awakening because becoming a city apprentice promised regular meals. 16

Ye Ruilin recognized the possibility that Ma Hongjun could be the “Phoenix” to emerge from Ma Village’s Grass Chicken lineage and ordered Old Wu to perform his awakening. Ma Hongjun manifested a Phoenix wreathed in purple-red flames, later identified as the superior Evil Fire Phoenix, and tested with Innate Soul Power level 8. 16 17

Bone Douluo offered to make Ma Hongjun a disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and promised the resources to reach Titled Douluo. Ma Hongjun instead chose to join the Ye Family and follow Ye Ruilin, despite Ye Ruilin refusing to pressure him into that choice. 17

His Evil Fire Phoenix generated excessive yang energy during cultivation; without release, its corrosive evil fire would burn him from within. Ye Ruilin created the Nine Heavens Burning Fire Art to redirect, refine, and ultimately weaponize that dangerous power. 18 19 23

Appearance

Ma Hongjun was originally a thin, sallow youth from Ma Village. As his martial soul developed, he became recognizable for his fiery red short hair, crimson-gold flames, and Vermilion Bird wings. 16 78 108

• Red short hair described as resembling dancing flames. 78
• Vermilion Bird wings carry golden patterns across crimson feathers. 80 108
• Crimson patterns emerge across his skin when channeling his martial soul and bloodline power. 108 119
• His physique became markedly stronger through body tempering and blood-energy arts. 60 69

Personality

Ma Hongjun is straightforward, earnest, and intensely loyal to Ye Ruilin. After choosing to follow him, he began calling him “Boss” and consistently measured his own progress by whether he had disappointed him. 20 27 80

He approaches training and battle with open enthusiasm. He actively sought combat experience against the Blazing Lion King, eagerly joined the Ye Family grand competition, and favored meeting strength with greater strength through his Blood Qi Ultimate Technique. 25 26 78

His loyalty can also make him impulsive. He suggested forcing Dugu Bo to yield during negotiations and volunteered to protect Ye Ruilin during the Star Luo Empire’s assault despite the threat posed by Titled Douluo. 28 83

Abilities & Skills

Evil Fire Phoenix / Vermilion Bird Martial Soul

Ma Hongjun awakened the Evil Fire Phoenix, a mutated top-tier Phoenix martial soul whose corrosive flames surpassed those of an ordinary Phoenix. It later evolved toward the divine beast Vermilion Bird. 17 18 36

• His evil fire consumes and corrodes opposing flames, allowing him to overwhelm fire-attributed soul beasts such as Blazing Lions. 23
• The martial soul’s excess yang energy was initially life-threatening and required cold water to suppress. 18
• His Vermilion Bird bloodline strengthens his physical body, enlarges his wings, and intensifies his flames. 60
• He gained brief aerial mobility before obtaining a spirit ring; the Nine Heavens Burning Fire Art initially allowed ten seconds of flight. 23

Nine Heavens Burning Fire Art

Ye Ruilin created this fire-attribute cultivation technique specifically for Ma Hongjun. It gives the excess evil fire in his body a controlled path of circulation rather than purging it. 18 19

• Enables Ma Hongjun to refine and control the Evil Fire Phoenix’s dangerous yang energy. 19 23
• Raises the potency of his flames beyond ordinary fire and preserves their corrosive quality. 23
• Provides the foundation for wielding Vermilion Bird Constellation Power. 60
• Its rapid advancement contributed to his improved physical strength, speed, and close-combat ability. 23 25

Spirit Skills

• Blazing Roar — First soul skill obtained from the Blazing Lion King. Releases a powerful flame shockwave within a three-meter range. 27
• Burning Heaven Scorching Plains — Second soul skill. Sends countless fire feathers raining over the battlefield, turning the surrounding area into a sea of fire. 108
• Explode — A documented second soul-skill technique used to defeat Ye Linxiao during the Ye Family grand competition. 80
• Fire Wing Impact — Third soul skill obtained from the Infernal Prison Demon Lion. Creates illusory flame wings that greatly improve his speed and explosive power. 146

Vermilion Bird: Heaven-Burning Force

A bloodline-powered close-combat technique that concentrates crimson-gold flames into Ma Hongjun’s strikes. 108

• Matched Xu Zhan’s Black Tortoise Cold Qi in a direct clash. 108
• Its explosive form vaporized Black Tortoise Cold Prison and shattered Xu Zhan’s defensive shield with a descending punch. 108

Rooster Thunder-Cry

Constellation Power awakened by absorbing the energy, rather than fusing, of a Golden Feather Falcon spirit bone. 60

• Produces purple lightning. 60
• Functions as a concealed trump card because opponents may not anticipate lightning from a Vermilion Bird martial soul. 60
• By three years later, Ma Hongjun had mastered two portions of Constellation Power. 69

Blood-Energy Arts

Ma Hongjun trained in Ye Ruilin’s blood-energy arts, building exceptional physical strength alongside his fire-based soul power. 69

• Uses the Blood Qi Ultimate Technique to reinforce his body for direct confrontations. 78
• Could trade physical blows with Yu Tianxin’s Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon possession using Vermilion Bird True Fire and raw strength. 69
• His physical power was sufficient to crack Xu Zhan’s Black Tortoise Turtle defense. 108

Scarlet Flame Mountain-Crushing Fist

A spirit-bone skill obtained after Ma Hongjun absorbed the 60,000-year Scarlet Flame Demon Ape spirit bone. 119

• Channels crimson flame through his left arm. 119
• A ground strike releases a ring of fire, cracks the floor, and erupts pillars of flame from the fissures. 119

Relationships

• Ye Ruilin — Boss, mentor, and sworn elder brother figure. Ye Ruilin guided his cultivation, selected his spirit rings, created his cultivation art, and arranged spirit-bone energy to awaken his Constellation Power. 17 20 60
• Old Village Chief — Village elder who treated Ma Hongjun with paternal affection and celebrated Ma Village finally producing a Spirit Master. 16 17
• Old Wu — Early cultivation guide and protector who came to regard Ma Hongjun as one of his own after he chose Ye Ruilin over Bone Douluo’s offer. 18 83
• Ning Rongrong — Friendly rival and battlefield ally. She competed with him in cultivation but supported him with Luck Conversion against the Blazing Lion King. 19 25
• Yu Tianxin — Friendly rival. Their physical spar demonstrated mutual respect, and their relationship deepened after Ye Ruilin healed their injuries. 69 70
• Ye Qingxuan — Companion whom Ma Hongjun addresses as “Sister Qingxuan”; he supported her before her match against Lin Ye. 108
• Dugu Yan — Teammate who coordinated with Ma Hongjun and Ning Rongrong to defeat the Infernal Prison Demon Lion. 146

Story Role / Major Arcs

Awakening and Recruitment

Ma Hongjun’s awakening established him as Ma Village’s exceptional child: a Phoenix born from a settlement known for Grass Chicken martial souls. He rejected Bone Douluo’s recruitment and chose Ye Ruilin and the Ye Family. 16 17

Sunset Forest Training

Under Ye Ruilin’s direction, Ma Hongjun refined the Evil Fire that once endangered him, defeated a Blazing Lion in his first battle, and trained against the Blazing Lion King before claiming it as his first spirit ring. 23 25 27

Vermilion Bird Evolution

At the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, the Nirvana Fire Phoenix Flower and Ye Ruilin’s Ultimate Fire advanced Ma Hongjun’s martial soul toward the Vermilion Bird. He later activated its bloodline and the Rooster Constellation Power through spirit-bone energy. 29 36 60

Ye Family Grand Competition

As an outsider permitted to enter the Ye Family’s grand competition, Ma Hongjun defeated Ye Linxiao with Blazing Roar and his second soul skill. His victory earned recognition from Ye Zhentian and the First Elder while drawing hostility from the Third Elder and Ye Ruixuan. 78 80

Three Clans Competition

Ma Hongjun represented the Ye Family against Xu Zhan of the Xu Family. He broke through the Black Tortoise Turtle martial soul’s defense with Heaven-Burning Force and won the match. 108

Third Spirit Ring Hunt

After reaching level 30, Ma Hongjun led the assault on the Infernal Prison Demon Lion alongside Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan. He successfully absorbed its ring and gained Fire Wing Impact. 144 146

Trivia

• Ma Hongjun initially wanted to become an apprentice primarily because it would let him eat his fill. 16
• He began picking up the Gold Soul Coins produced by Ye Ruilin’s auspicious attribute, taking over a task formerly handled by Old Wu. 20
• He could fly for short periods before obtaining his first spirit ring, an ability Ye Ruilin attributed to the Nine Heavens Burning Fire Art. 23
• He was severely injured and rendered unconscious during Ghost Shadow Douluo’s ambush in Breeze City. 103