Ma Hongjun

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Ma Hongjun (马红俊)
Alias(es)	“Fatty” 52
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Shrek Academy 1 52
Occupation/Role	Fire-attribute Soul Master; Shrek Academy student 1 52
Martial Soul	Evil Fire Phoenix 1 54
Innate Soul Power	Rank nine 1
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background / History

Ma Hongjun originated from Wild Chicken Village, where he awakened a phoenix martial soul and innate rank-nine soul power. Flender discovered him alongside Li Qinglian and brought both children to Shrek Academy. 1

Li Qinglian’s awakening of an even stronger Fire Phoenix martial soul with innate full soul power intensified Ma Hongjun’s longstanding jealousy. Ma had resented Li Qinglian’s maturity and handsome appearance since childhood, and expected his own phoenix awakening to separate their social standing before learning they possessed similar martial souls. 1

Rather than endure the Evil Fire Phoenix’s backlash, Ma Hongjun adopted the practice of venting it through frequent visits to brothels. He urged Li Qinglian to do the same, believing Li’s refusal would eventually kill him; Li instead viewed Ma’s conduct as a corrupt path fundamentally opposed to his own ideals. 2

Years later, Ma’s lack of restraint had worsened. He provoked Canghui Academy students by staring at and speaking crudely about their female classmates, then defended himself rather than apologizing. 52 When Li Qinglian confronted him, Ma insisted that Shrek Academy students should not fear causing trouble, prompting Li to distinguish boldness from using strength to bully the weak. 53

Li Qinglian’s display of Ultimate Fire forced Ma to recognize the gulf between their paths: while both began with the Evil Fire Phoenix, Li’s flames had become increasingly pure while Ma remained bound to his desires. This realization left Ma jealous and remorseful. 54

Appearance

Ma Hongjun is described as ordinary-looking in contrast to Li Qinglian and is repeatedly called “Fatty.” 1 52

• Has a notably stocky or fat build, reflected in his nickname. 52
• Is considered unattractive by Ning Rongrong, who contrasts his appearance and conduct with Li Qinglian’s. 52

Personality

Ma Hongjun is deeply jealous of Li Qinglian, particularly over their comparable phoenix martial souls, their differing innate soul power, and Li’s appearance. 1 His jealousy is reinforced by the contrast between Li’s self-discipline and Ma’s chosen method of handling Evil Fire. 2 54

He is lewd, impulsive, and defensive when criticized. His habit of objectifying women causes friction with both outsiders and his Shrek Academy companions. 52 53 56 However, seeing Li Qinglian’s purified phoenix flames makes him confront the consequences of his own choices. 54

Abilities & Skills

Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul

Ma Hongjun possesses the Evil Fire Phoenix, a top-tier beast martial soul whose Evil Fire creates severe physical desire and backlash. 1 56

• Awakened with innate rank-nine soul power. 1
• The martial soul causes its user’s body to develop abnormally quickly. 1
• Ma claims that the Evil Fire Phoenix’s backlash shortens its users’ lives and that historical Fire Phoenix Soul Masters did not cultivate beyond Soul Sage. 56
• He relieves the Evil Fire through indulgence rather than restraint, a choice Li Qinglian regards as self-defilement. 2 54

Relationships

• Li Qinglian — Childhood peer and fellow phoenix martial soul user. Ma envies Li’s greater innate talent and appearance; their paths diverge over how to deal with Evil Fire. 1 2 54
• Flender — Shrek Academy’s dean, who discovered Ma’s talent in Wild Chicken Village and brought him to the academy. Flender initially supported Ma’s method of venting Evil Fire. 1 2
• Ning Rongrong — Shrek Academy teammate who is openly disgusted by Ma’s behavior and repeatedly compares him unfavorably to Li Qinglian. 52 56
• Tang San — Shrek Academy teammate present during Li Qinglian’s confrontation with Ma; Tang’s hostility toward Li further frames the encounter. 53 54
• Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing — Teammates who witness Ma’s conduct and his disclosure of the Evil Fire Phoenix’s drawbacks. 52 56

Story Role / Major Arcs

Shrek Academy Recruitment

Ma is one of the two phoenix-martial-soul children discovered by Flender in Wild Chicken Village. His rank-nine innate soul power initially marks him as an exceptional prospect, but Li Qinglian’s innate full soul power immediately places them in competition. 1

Divergence from Li Qinglian

Ma embraces brothel visits as the solution to Evil Fire, while Li Qinglian chooses to endure the backlash and pursue phoenix nirvana. Their opposite decisions become the central divide in their relationship. 2 8

Conflict at the Star Dou Forest Town

Ma’s crude behavior toward Canghui Academy’s female students helps provoke a confrontation between the two academies. His actions disgust Ning Rongrong and reinforce the contrast between him and Li Qinglian. 52

Li Qinglian’s Rebuke

Li Qinglian publicly rebukes Ma for harassing respectable women and for mistaking reckless bullying for courage. Ma refuses responsibility, but Li’s later display of Ultimate Fire makes Ma recognize that their shared martial soul has led them to radically different outcomes. 53 54

Trivia

• Ma Hongjun and Li Qinglian both began with phoenix martial souls, but Li’s innate soul power was one rank higher: full soul power versus Ma’s rank nine. 1
• Ma’s own explanation of the Evil Fire Phoenix’s drawbacks is challenged by Li Qinglian’s continued advancement through self-restraint and phoenix-nirvana cultivation. 54 56