Ma Xiaotao

Biodata

Name	Ma Xiaotao
Alias(es)	Senior Ma
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Shrek Academy Inner Academy; Shrek Academy Inner Court Tournament Team
Occupation/Role	Inner Academy student; fire-attribute Soul Master; captain of Shrek Academy's Inner Court tournament team
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 25

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Fire Phoenix martial soul with evil fire backlash	25	Her Fire Phoenix martial soul contains impure innate fire, causing accumulated “evil fire” that repeatedly drives her into berserk states.
Reincarnation Heavenly Phoenix	25	Huo Chen purifies and evolves her martial soul with the Reincarnation Other Shore Flower, removing the evil fire permanently and transforming her flames into pure golden fire with seven-colored reincarnation radiance.
Rank 71 Soul Sage	67	Having become one of the Inner Academy's youngest Soul Sages, she serves as captain of Shrek Academy's Inner Court team at the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament. Her reincarnation-infused flames give her combat strength beyond ordinary Soul Sages of the same rank.

Background / History

Ma Xiaotao is an Inner Academy student of Shrek Academy and a Fire Phoenix martial soul user. Before meeting Huo Chen, she suffers from uncontrollable evil fire tied directly to the impurity of her martial soul, a condition severe enough to make her lose reason and flee toward Sea God Lake in an attempt to cool herself 25.

Her first encounter with Huo Chen happens while she is already near-berserk. She stumbles into him by the lakeside and asks for help; Huo Chen uses the Reincarnation Other Shore Flower to suppress, then fully purify, the evil fire at its source 25. The process evolves her martial soul from Fire Phoenix into the god-tier Reincarnation Heavenly Phoenix, freeing her from future evil fire backlash 25.

Afterward, Ma Xiaotao openly acknowledges what happened between them and insists neither of them pretend it never occurred. She declares that she will visit Huo Chen often and that he is “not allowed to run away,” while Huo Chen says he will take responsibility 25.

In the following days, she regularly visits Huo Chen, sometimes bringing food and sometimes simply stopping by. She pursues him directly but does not pressure him, gradually becoming part of his daily life 27 29. After Huo Chen explains his Reincarnation Divine Examination, she reduces the frequency and duration of her visits, understanding the need for balance and boundaries in his life 30.

Huo Chen later explains his Divine Examination of Reincarnation and the possibility that other women may enter his life. Ma Xiaotao accepts this as long as he truly likes her, keeps a place for her in his heart, and treats everyone fairly 29.

She later asks Huo Chen to help her best friend Ling Luocheng, an ice-element Inner Academy student stuck at a Rank 60 bottleneck. Her request leads Huo Chen to begin guiding Ling Luocheng’s martial soul development 46 47.

By the time of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament, Ma Xiaotao has reached Rank 71 and is selected as captain of Shrek Academy’s seven-member Inner Court team 67. She leads the team through the tournament and later defeats all seven members of Shrek’s Outer Academy team consecutively in the final relay battle, securing the Inner Court team’s victory 81.

Appearance

Ma Xiaotao is repeatedly described as a striking red-haired young woman with a fiery presence matching her martial soul 25 46.

• Around seventeen or eighteen years old when first encountered 25.
• Long flaming-red hair, compared to fire or a burning banner 25 46 79 81.
• Slender, curvaceous figure 25 46.
• Lovely face; considered attractive enough to draw attention from passing students 25 46.
• Often dresses boldly in dark red and black, including leather jackets, fitted tops, miniskirts, stockings, skinny pants, and boots 46 49.
• Wears a clean white shirt and dark trousers for her first formal date with Huo Chen 29.
• Her transformed martial soul manifests as pure golden phoenix flames with seven-colored reincarnation radiance 25.
• During combat, the phantom of the Reincarnation Heavenly Phoenix appears behind her; under her Martial Soul True Body, she becomes a massive heavenly phoenix wreathed in golden-red flames 79.

Personality

Ma Xiaotao is direct, bold, and emotionally honest. After Huo Chen saves her, she immediately refuses to act coy or evasive, openly stating that she will “own” what happened and that he cannot run away from responsibility 25.

She is proactive in relationships but respects boundaries. Even while visiting Huo Chen frequently, she does not pester him or force an answer; instead, she enters his life through consistent small gestures such as bringing food or stopping by to greet him 27 29. Once their relationship is clarified, she consciously gives him more space rather than seeking constant reassurance 30.

She also has a playful, teasing side. She jokes with Huo Chen, links arms naturally, kisses him lightly, and teases Ling Luocheng about her meetings with him 29 46 49. Her humor can be mischievous, but it is usually paired with warmth rather than malice 49 52.

Ma Xiaotao is loyal to people she cares about. She worries about Ling Luocheng’s bottleneck and personally asks Huo Chen for help before even telling Ling Luocheng, showing both concern and trust 46. When Ling Luocheng later becomes Huo Chen’s partner, Ma Xiaotao accepts it without resentment and warns Huo Chen not to mistreat her friend 52.

She is also confident and battle-loving. As captain of Shrek’s Inner Court tournament team, she welcomes difficult opponents rather than avoiding them, regarding a strong first-round opponent as an opportunity to avoid a slow warm-up 68. She encourages the Outer Court team to challenge her seriously and accepts Wang Dong’er’s declaration of a future rematch with enthusiasm 79 81.

Abilities & Skills

Fire Phoenix Martial Soul

Ma Xiaotao originally possesses the Fire Phoenix martial soul, a powerful fire-attribute martial soul burdened by impurity in its innate flame 25.

• Produces intense heat and violent soul-power fluctuations when unstable 25.
• Evil fire can overwhelm her sanity and force her into a berserk state 25.
• The problem is not merely soul-power disorder; it is rooted in the martial soul itself 25.
• Simple suppression can only treat the symptoms, not the cause 25.

Reincarnation Heavenly Phoenix

After Huo Chen’s purification, Ma Xiaotao’s martial soul evolves into the Reincarnation Heavenly Phoenix 25.

• Transforms her dark-red, impure flames into pure golden fire 25.
• Displays a phoenix phantom with seven-colored reincarnation radiance across its wings 25.
• Classified in the narration as a god-tier martial soul 25.
• Removes the threat of evil fire backlash permanently 25.
• Represents a leap in essence, not just an increase in quality 25.
• Her flames are infused with reincarnation power, granting them strength beyond that of ordinary Soul Sages at the same level 67.
• The phoenix flames possess a strong purifying quality, dispersing Cui Yajie’s illusory mist and incinerating Tang Ya’s Blue Silver Sky-Devouring Grass before it can restrain her 81.
• She can gather the martial soul’s flames into a defensive wall of fire powerful enough to vaporize Wang Dong’er’s light-feather attacks without using a soul skill 81.

Soul Sage Combat Ability

By the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament, Ma Xiaotao is a Rank 71 Soul Sage and one of the youngest Soul Sages in Shrek Academy’s Inner Court 67.

• Serves as the captain and foremost combatant of Shrek Academy’s Inner Court tournament team 67 68.
• Her seventh soul skill manifests Phoenix True Body, transforming her into a giant golden-red heavenly phoenix 79.
• Her Phoenix True Body withstands a head-on clash against the combined attacks of Wang Dong’er’s Light Goddess Butterfly and Wu Feng’s Heaven-Burning Dragon Emperor, though the collision forces her back several meters 79.
• Defeats Wang Dong’er by using her flames to dissolve repeated light-feather attacks before forcing her beyond the arena boundary 81.
• Overwhelms Wu Feng in seventeen exchanges, piercing her dragonflame and exhausting her ability to continue fighting 81.
• Counters Tang Ya’s control tactics by burning Blue Silver Sky-Devouring Grass to ash and preventing its devouring effect from taking hold 81.
• Uses battlefield experience and advance flame placement to intercept Jiang Nannan’s high-speed ambush route 81.
• Defeats all seven Outer Academy competitors in succession during the final relay battle despite the cumulative drain on her soul power 81.

Combat Aptitude

Ma Xiaotao is established as one of the few female Inner Academy Soul Masters capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with Ling Luocheng 46.

• Trains actively in the Inner Court training grounds 52.
• Her physical movements during morning exercises create scorching waves of air from the wind of her punches 52.
• Evaluates Huo Yuhao’s freshman assessment performance seriously, noting his strong foundation, decent combat instincts, and lack of experience 29.
• Recognizes Huo Yuhao’s combat ability during the tournament and praises his skill after he takes on multiple Star Luo Royal Academy opponents alone 69 70.
• Combines superior cultivation, broad-area flame attacks, and considerable combat experience to neutralize opponents using speed, control, illusion, defense, or direct offense 81.

Relationships

• Huo Chen — Romantic partner and the person who purifies her evil fire, evolves her martial soul, and accepts responsibility for their bond 25 29. Their relationship becomes comfortable and familiar through frequent visits, shared meals, and open communication 27 29 46. Ma Xiaotao accepts the unique demands of his Reincarnation Divine Examination while insisting that he treat his partners fairly 29.
• Ling Luocheng — Best friend and fellow Inner Academy student. Ma Xiaotao asks Huo Chen to help Ling Luocheng’s martial soul bottleneck and later accepts Ling Luocheng’s relationship with him, calling their new dynamic “sisters” 46 49 52.
• Huo Yuhao — Huo Chen’s nephew and a teammate under her leadership in the Inner Court tournament team. Ma Xiaotao watches his freshman assessment matches, praises his talent, and says she should build a good relationship with him in advance because he is Huo Chen’s nephew 29. During the Continental Tournament, she permits him to lead Shrek’s opening battle and praises his combat capability after he defeats several opponents alone 69 70.
• Ice Empress — Indirect romantic rival early on. Ice Empress notices Ma Xiaotao’s presence around Huo Chen and becomes distant before later confirming her own relationship with him 25 27 28.
• Snow Empress — Observes Huo Chen’s interactions with Ma Xiaotao and discusses his feelings and responsibilities with him 27.
• Tang Ya — A fellow partner of Huo Chen whom Ma Xiaotao meets during the journey to the Continental Tournament. Ma Xiaotao is curious about Tang Ya’s place in Huo Chen’s life and privately speaks with her on several occasions 67.
• Wang Dong’er — A junior from Shrek’s Outer Academy team. Ma Xiaotao faces her in the tournament final relay battle, decisively wins, and agrees to await Wang Dong’er’s challenge in the following year 79 81.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Evil Fire Purification

Ma Xiaotao’s introduction centers on her evil fire going berserk near Sea God Lake. Huo Chen intervenes, discovers that the issue is rooted in her Fire Phoenix martial soul, and performs a complete purification that evolves it into the Reincarnation Heavenly Phoenix 25.

Beginning of Relationship with Huo Chen

After the purification, Ma Xiaotao openly acknowledges the intimacy and consequences of the event. Her straightforward pursuit becomes Huo Chen’s first major romantic bond on the path of his Reincarnation Divine Examination, triggering a divine reward that advances all nine of his soul rings to the million-year level 25.

Daily Life and Acceptance

Ma Xiaotao continues visiting Huo Chen but avoids forcing him into a decision. When he finally explains the Divine Examination and the possibility of future partners, she accepts the situation on the condition that he likes her, takes responsibility, and remains fair 27 29. Following this conversation, she continues caring for him while deliberately respecting the balance of his home life and relationships 30.

Ling Luocheng Introduction

Ma Xiaotao brings up Ling Luocheng’s cultivation crisis and asks Huo Chen to help. This request introduces Ling Luocheng into Huo Chen’s circle and begins another major relationship thread 46 47.

Acceptance of Ling Luocheng

When Ling Luocheng publicly states that she and Huo Chen are together, Ma Xiaotao reacts with teasing rather than resentment. She blesses the relationship, warns Huo Chen not to hurt Ling Luocheng, and jokes that this makes them sisters 52.

Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament

Ma Xiaotao leads Shrek Academy’s Inner Court team as its Rank 71 Soul Sage captain in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament 67. She leads the Inner Court team to a dominant opening-round victory against the Heavenly Soul Empire Royal Academy representative team 68.

In the tournament’s final Shrek civil war, she demonstrates the overwhelming gap between the Inner and Outer Court teams. After opening with Phoenix True Body, Ma Xiaotao later defeats Wang Dong’er, Wu Feng, Tang Ya, Jiang Nannan, Cui Yajie, Xiao Xiao, and Ning Tian consecutively in the final relay battle, winning the championship for the Inner Court team 79 81.

Notable Quotes

“Help... help me...” 25

“My name is Ma Xiaotao. I'm an inner court student, and my martial soul is the Fire Phoenix. What happened today... I won't pretend it never happened.” 25

“I, Ma Xiaotao, am not the coy and evasive type. Since it happened, I'll own it. You... you're not allowed to run away either.” 25

“Once I, Ma Xiaotao, set my heart on someone, I won't let go for any reason.” 29

“I might not mind if you have other women, but you have to be fair. No favoritism, no treating one better than another.” 29

“If you ever dare treat her badly, I'll be the first to come after you.” 52

“A tough one right from the first round? Perfect. Saves us the trouble of warming up.” 68

“Fine. I'll be waiting.” 81

Trivia

• Ma Xiaotao’s first meeting with Huo Chen directly advances his Reincarnation Divine Examination by making her his first Dao companion 25.
• She used to rely on spicy food to distract herself from the torment of her evil fire, which is why she became a regular at a grilled fish shop in Shrek City 29.
• She notices and evaluates Huo Yuhao during the freshman assessment even though Huo Chen does not realize she is watching from the back row 29.
• In this novel’s setting, Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luocheng are explicitly revised to be best friends 46.
• She is the captain of Shrek Academy’s Inner Court team during the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament 67.
• In the tournament final relay battle, she defeats all seven members of Shrek’s Outer Academy team by herself 81.