Ma Hongjun

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Ma Hongjun (马红俊) 39
Alias(es)	Fatty 39
Gender	Male 39
Affiliation	Shrek Academy / Shrek Seven Devils 39
Occupation/Role	Shrek Academy student and combatant 39 50
Cultivation	Level 41 Assault-Type Battle Soul Ancestor 162
First Appearance	Chapter 39

Appearance

Ma Hongjun is a plump boy whose body often gives off a noticeable fiery aura when his Evil Fire is unstable. 39

• Referred to by others as “Fatty.” 39
• Sweats heavily and develops dark-red firelight in his eyes when losing control. 39
• His original mutated phoenix manifestation produces dark-red flames. 40
• He is left with a swollen, bruised face after Bu Le beats him in Suotuo City. 49 52
• After consuming the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, his former dark-red Evil Fire begins transforming into a purified Phoenix Flame. 123 129 131

Personality

Ma Hongjun is blunt, thick-skinned, and easily provoked. He brushes off criticism, argues back when insulted, and initially slips away to chase women despite his classmates’ awareness of his behavior. 39 49

Beneath that recklessness, he fears harming others when his Evil Fire overwhelms him. After endangering Cuihua and being subdued, he apologizes, accepts Flender’s punishment, and sincerely seeks Tang San’s help to control himself. 40 41 42 He is fiercely loyal to his companions and reacts strongly when Bu Le humiliates and injures him. 49 50

Although he complains constantly about food, training, and danger, Ma Hongjun does not back down from group battles. Even while recovering from Bu Le’s beating, he insists on taking part in the Shrek Seven Monsters’ Soul Fighting Arena debut, and later follows tactical instructions to support his teammates against Emperor Team. 51 52 95 99

His willingness to endure pain becomes clearer when Tang San offers him the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower. Despite being warned that the herb will forcibly draw out all his Evil Fire, Ma Hongjun accepts the risk because he wants to eliminate the flaw that has tormented him for years. 122 123 He remains boastful after his transformation and takes pride in his strength during the Advancement Tournament, but accepts Tang San’s decisions when his damaged meridians make further combat unsafe. 162 163

Abilities & Skills

Mutated Phoenix Martial Soul

Ma Hongjun originally possesses a mutated Phoenix martial soul associated with powerful but impure Evil Fire. Its backlash fuels his loss of control and creates a persistent risk to people near him. 40 41

• Produces intense dark-red flames capable of instantly charring Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass. 40
• His fire can surge beyond his conscious control during emotional distress. 39 40
• The martial soul’s unstable fire is temporarily weakened when Ji Yuan secretly extracts a portion of its origin through Ma Hongjun’s Yongquan acupoint. 41
• Ji Yuan subsequently maintains flame-related spore nodes in Ma Hongjun, intending to draw out more Evil Fire during future backlashes. 42 44
• By the Star Dou Great Forest expedition, much of his Evil Fire origin has been secretly depleted through Ji Yuan’s parasitic network, though the remaining fire continues slowly regenerating at the root of his martial soul. 78
• The Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower draws out and purifies the harmful Evil Fire, allowing his martial soul to develop toward a true Phoenix rather than remain a defective mutation. 122 123 129 131

Phoenix Flame

After absorbing the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, Ma Hongjun’s former Evil Fire is purified into Phoenix Flame. Although the transformation initially leaves him physically exhausted and unable to sustain the manifestation, the fire no longer burns his own meridians as it once did. 129 131

• The herb’s absorption forces his Evil Fire to erupt violently before the new Phoenix Flame can stabilize. 123 129
• He is briefly able to summon the purified flame during the group’s recovery, confirming that the harmful Evil Fire influence has been removed. 131
• His Phoenix Soul Power remains difficult to combine with Dai Mubai’s White Tiger power during Shrek’s later synchronization training, requiring Tang San to carefully regulate the flow. 168 170

Phoenix Fire Wire

Ma Hongjun can project fire in a concentrated stream from his mouth. 40

• Burns through multiple Blue Silver Grass vines and forces Tang San to evade with Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. 40
• Can be used in coordinated combat; against Bu Le, he sweeps fire across the ground to restrict the opponent’s movement rather than directly incinerate him. 50
• Its power is ineffective against sufficiently strong defensive Soul Power, as Bu Le’s barrier forces the flames back. 49
• During the pursuit of the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, his fire forces the serpent to alter its path, though he cannot consistently strike a fast aerial target. 56
• He uses the skill to pressure Yu Feng during the battle against Emperor Team, first forcing the flying opponent to evade and later driving him into Zhu Zhuqing’s attack range. 95 99
• Ma Hongjun considers his phoenix flames capable of offsetting part of Dugu Yan’s poison, allowing him to give his Detoxifying Sausage to Xiao Wu instead. 95
• He ignites Tang San’s realgar wine with Phoenix Fire Wire, helping neutralize Dugu Yan’s Jade Phosphorous Purple Poison and force its backlash. 97
• He uses Phoenix Fire Wire against Wang Shuo during the Advancement Tournament, defeating the battle-axe Soul Elder in fewer than ten breaths. 162

Phoenix Bathing in Fire

His second soul skill surrounds him with a much more powerful blaze, dramatically escalating the danger of an Evil Fire episode. 40

• Dark-red flames coil around his body and scorch the surrounding earth. 40
• The skill creates stronger firepower but opens weaknesses in the circulation outlets beneath his feet, allowing Ji Yuan to infiltrate and steal fire-origin energy. 40 41
• Ma Hongjun cannot reliably stop the skill once he has lost control. 40
• He later employs the skill in controlled combat against Wang Shuo, covering his body in Phoenix flames before using Phoenix Fire Wire to finish the match. 162

Power Progression

Chapter(s)	Development
39	Ji Yuan places water-vapor spores around the outer edges of Ma Hongjun’s meridians but cannot initially invade further because of the mixed, volatile nature of his Evil Fire. 39
41	During an Evil Fire backlash, Ji Yuan enters through Ma Hongjun’s Yongquan acupoint and secretly tears away a strand of his mutated Phoenix Evil Fire origin, abruptly weakening the episode. 41
42, 44	Ji Yuan reinforces hidden flame nodes within Ma Hongjun, establishing a long-term means of harvesting Evil Fire whenever it flares up. 42 44
56	Ma Hongjun demonstrates controlled Phoenix Fire Wire during the hunt for the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, using it to interfere with the serpent’s movement without killing Oscar’s prospective soul-ring target. 56
78	The Evil Fire stored within him is revealed to have been greatly depleted by the parasitic network, although it continues breeding anew from the root of his martial soul. 78
95, 99	He applies Phoenix Fire Wire as coordinated battlefield control against Emperor Team, helping restrict Yu Feng’s aerial movement and force Dugu Yan toward the edge of the stage. 95 99
123	While absorbing the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, Ma Hongjun endures a violent eruption of Evil Fire as Ji Yuan establishes additional parasitic receiving nodes through his meridians and martial soul. 123
129, 131	The Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower purifies his defective Evil Fire into Phoenix Flame. He is initially drained to the point of weakness, but confirms that the former fire no longer burns his own meridians. 129 131
137	Like the other herb recipients, Ma Hongjun becomes temporarily dependent on Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass connection; his Soul Power and Phoenix Flame fail when he is separated from its range. 137
140	In Shrek’s preliminary-round opening match, he uses his flames to repel Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team 2’s agility attackers and control Shrek’s flank. 140
143	He assists Shrek’s victory over Elephant Armored Academy by using Phoenix Fire Wire to pressure the opponents after Huyan Li’s formation collapses. 143
146, 147	His flames prove unable to suppress Blazing Fire Academy’s concentrated team firepower, forcing him to withdraw according to Tang San’s strategy and exposing the superiority of Huo Wu’s combined flame formation. 146 147
162	Having reached level 41, Ma Hongjun succeeds Dai Mubai in Shrek’s first Advancement Tournament match and defeats Balak Academy’s final three contestants. 162
163	He volunteers to face Plant Academy’s Crimson Flame Thorn Soul Master but is held back because his meridians have not recovered from his previous consecutive battles. 163
168, 170	He contributes Phoenix Soul Power to Shrek’s seven-person fusion training, learning to restrain its fire attribute so the combined energy can be stabilized and channeled into Tang San’s Clear Sky Hammer. 168 170

Relationships

• Tang San — Classmate whom Ma Hongjun comes to regard as a savior and “big brother” after Tang San appears to suppress his Evil Fire. He later seeks Tang San’s help whenever the fire acts up and follows his tactical directions in battle. Tang San also gives him the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, enabling the purification of his Evil Fire into Phoenix Flame. 41 42 44 50 52 99 122 131 162 170
• Cuihua — Former girlfriend. She breaks up with him after fearing that his uncontrolled Evil Fire will eventually kill her. 40 41
• Dai Mubai — Senior Shrek companion who repeatedly tries to restrain or reason with him during his Evil Fire episodes and helps rescue him from Bu Le. Dai Mubai also coordinates with him during team battles. The two retain a competitive friendship, including mutual teasing over the Advancement Tournament lineup and their incompatible White Tiger and Phoenix Soul Powers during synchronization training. 40 41 49 50 52 99 162 168 170
• Oscar — Fellow student with whom Ma Hongjun shares casual banter; Oscar also tries to keep him from killing Bu Le in retaliation. The two remain close despite constantly teasing one another over food, injuries, and Oscar’s sausages. 39 45 50 51 52 78 85 131 169 170
• Flender — Dean who disciplines Ma Hongjun for the village incident, orders him to apologize, and deducts his allowance. Flender later personally coaches him through the dangerous Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower absorption and worries over his post-transformation weakness. 41 123 131
• Zhao Wuji — Shrek teacher who leads Ma Hongjun and the other students through the Star Dou Great Forest, repeatedly silences his ill-timed remarks, and directs him not to kill the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent needed for Oscar’s soul ring. 56 58 59
• Ji Yuan — An unknown parasite within Tang San’s network that covertly harvests Ma Hongjun’s Evil Fire and manipulates flame nodes in his body; Ma Hongjun remains unaware. Ji Yuan later includes him in the synchronized Dark Web linking the Shrek students, plants additional nodes during his immortal-herb transformation, and continues drawing on his Phoenix Soul Power during the team’s later synchronization training. 39 41 42 44 77 78 123 129 168 170
• Bu Le — A Soul Ancestor who beats and humiliates Ma Hongjun in an alley, prompting the Shrek students’ ambush and Ma Hongjun’s desire for revenge. Ma Hongjun is horrified when Bu Le is subsequently drained into a desiccated corpse, despite not intending to kill him. 49 50 51
• Yu Feng — Emperor Team’s flying Soul Master. Ma Hongjun clashes with him through their fire-based aerial exchange and later helps force him into Zhu Zhuqing’s range. 95 99
• Yu Xiaogang — Ma Hongjun’s instructor, who assigns him demanding physical training, recognizes his hidden physical potential, and helps supervise the recovery period following the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower’s purification of his martial soul. 85 87 123 131 168

Story Role / Major Arcs

Evil Fire Crisis

Ma Hongjun leaves Shrek Academy while his Evil Fire is becoming unstable, drawing Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Dai Mubai after him to prevent an incident in the village. 39 Cuihua attempts to end their relationship, but Ma Hongjun loses control, manifests his mutated Phoenix, and nearly pursues her through the village entrance. 40

Tang San’s intervention coincides with Ji Yuan secretly extracting some of Ma Hongjun’s fire-origin energy, abruptly weakening the flames. Ma Hongjun believes Tang San saved him and begins treating him as a trusted elder brother. 41 He later brings breakfast as an apology and asks Tang San to assist with future flare-ups. 42

Suotuo Alley Incident

While in Suotuo City, Ma Hongjun slips away and is confronted by Bu Le after staring at women in the district. Bu Le overwhelms him with superior Soul Power, beats him, and leaves him injured in the alley. 49

Tang San, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ma Hongjun coordinate an ambush against Bu Le. Ma Hongjun uses his Evil Fire to force Bu Le toward Tang San’s Spider Web Restraint, then retaliates physically after Bu Le is subdued; Tang San stops him from killing their opponent. 50

After Bu Le is found dying in a mysteriously drained state, Ma Hongjun denies any intent to kill him. Despite his injuries, he eagerly joins the newly named Shrek Seven Monsters for their upcoming Soul Fighting Arena team battle. 51

Star Dou Great Forest Expedition

Ma Hongjun accompanies the group into the Star Dou Great Forest for Oscar’s third soul ring. He uses Phoenix Fire Wire to interfere with the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent’s movement while Zhao Wuji ensures that the soul beast is not killed before Oscar can claim it. 56

He remains with the group when Chao Tianxiang, Meng Yiran, and later Meng Shu contest the serpent. He contributes his usual blunt commentary but is forced to recognize the threat posed by the Dragon Serpent Couple’s pressure. 56 59

Following the Titan Giant Ape attack and the group’s regrouping, Ma Hongjun returns to camp with firewood and becomes one of the seven hosts synchronized through Ji Yuan’s Dark Web. At that point, his Evil Fire has already been significantly harvested, though it continues regenerating inside him. 77 78

Devil Training

Under Yu Xiaogang’s harsh post-expedition training regimen, Ma Hongjun receives an eleven-stone bamboo basket for daily endurance drills. He immediately complains that he has not eaten enough, illustrating his persistent fixation on food even in the face of intensive training. 85

During the training, Yu Xiaogang identifies that Ma Hongjun is concealing some of his physical potential and increases the burden placed on him. Ma Hongjun protests but ultimately continues the endurance exercises alongside the other Shrek students. 87

Emperor Team Battle

Before facing Emperor Team, Ma Hongjun is unsettled by Yu Tianheng’s level-thirty-nine Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul but insists that the Evil Fire Phoenix is not afraid of lightning. 94

During the battle, he exchanges fire with Yu Feng and assists the Shrek team’s counterattack after Tang San neutralizes Yu Tianheng’s Thunderous Fury. His Phoenix Fire Wire helps drive Yu Feng into Zhu Zhuqing’s range and forces Dugu Yan toward the edge of the platform, contributing to Shrek’s victory. 95 99

Immortal Herb Transformation

Tang San selects the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower for Ma Hongjun, explaining that it can purify his Evil Fire and elevate the quality of his Phoenix flames, but will first draw out all of the dangerous fire within him. Ma Hongjun accepts the herb despite the risk. 122

The absorption causes violent eruptions of Evil Fire that Flender must coach him through from outside the meditation chamber. As the transformation develops, his former corrupted flame begins changing toward purified Phoenix Flame. 123 129

The completed transformation removes the Evil Fire influence that had burned Ma Hongjun’s meridians for years. Though he is temporarily so weak that he cannot sustain his martial soul, he later briefly summons purified Phoenix Flame during the group’s recovery. 131

Heaven Dou Tournament

During Shrek’s preliminary-round opening match against Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team 2, Ma Hongjun uses his flames to repel agility attackers and protect the team’s formation. 140 He later helps break Elephant Armored Academy’s formation by applying Phoenix Fire Wire after Tang San weakens Huyan Li’s defenses. 143

Against Blazing Fire Academy, Ma Hongjun discovers that his flames cannot suppress Huo Wu’s formation-enhanced firepower. He obeys Tang San’s order to withdraw from the central fire zone while the team follows a strategy built around Tang San drawing the opposing flames. 146

Advancement Tournament

For the Advancement Tournament’s individual-elimination format, Ma Hongjun is assigned as Shrek’s second fighter, following Dai Mubai and preceding Xiao Wu. 160 After Dai Mubai defeats four Balak Academy members and voluntarily withdraws, Ma Hongjun takes the field as a level-41 Soul Ancestor. 162

Ma Hongjun defeats Wang Shuo with Phoenix Bathing in Fire and Phoenix Fire Wire, then eliminates Balak Academy’s final two contestants to secure Shrek’s first match victory. 162 He later volunteers to fight Plant Academy’s fire-vine Soul Master but is prevented from doing so because his meridians have not sufficiently recovered from the earlier consecutive battles. 163

Spirit City Preparation

After arriving in Spirit City, Ma Hongjun participates in Tang San’s effort to synchronize the Shrek Seven Devils’ Soul Power for the coming finals. His Phoenix Soul Power initially clashes with Dai Mubai’s White Tiger power, requiring Tang San to divide and regulate their flows through Blue Silver Grass. 168

He ultimately contributes to the seven-in-one fusion designed to temporarily empower Tang San’s Clear Sky Hammer. During the successful attempt, Ma Hongjun carefully restrains the fire attribute of his Phoenix Soul Power as the team channels its combined strength toward Tang San. 170

Notable Quotes

“From now on, you’re my big brother.” 41

“Anyone who can suppress my evil fire is family.” 41

“Then come down if you’ve got the guts.” 95

“That’s all it took?” 162