Ma Xiaotao

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Ma Xiaotao (马小桃)
Alias(es)	Xiaotao 3
Gender	Female 3
Affiliation	Shrek Academy, formerly; later accepted alongside her teacher by the Fatui and affiliated with Cassell Saint Freya Academy, also called Cassell College 9 72 128 133
Occupation/Role	Yan Shaozhe’s personal disciple; former bodyguard and restaurant worker for Jiang Hao; Cassell College fighter 3 54 133
Martial Soul	Evil Fire Phoenix; later wields Demon Phoenix Evil Fire and Ultimate Fire 12 128 133 151
Highest Documented Cultivation	Level 70, seven-ring Soul Saint 131 134 135
Status	Alive; last shown fighting Sun Moon Empire forces alongside Yan Shaozhe 163
First Appearance	Introduced by Yan Shaozhe to Jiang Hao 3

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Fourth Soul Ring / four-ring Soul Master	12 52	Absorbs a purple Lava Scorpion ring under Xian Ling’er’s protection. The ring is selected for its chance of granting the desired Phoenix Sky-Shattering Strike; her four-ring status is later confirmed.
Complete Evil Fire fusion	60 61	Her Evil Fire fuses with her body, mind, and Phoenix Martial Soul. Soul Power flows more smoothly, but the initial transformation causes a frenzy in which she gravely injures Jiang Hao.
Acceptance of Evil Fire	72 82	Reinterprets her flames as power capable of destroying evil rather than proof of personal wickedness. She feels stronger and becomes more determined to cultivate.
Fifth Soul Ring / World-Destroying Black Flame	135	Retrospectively identified as her first new Soul Skill after complete Evil Fire fusion. Obtained through the Soul Ring Factor Extraction Method; amplifies her Soul-Power-generated flames to 2.5 times their original power.
Seven-ring Soul Saint / level 70	131 134 135	Uses her Martial Soul Avatar in academy sparring. Later passages confirm that she has recently reached Soul Saint and level 70, but has not yet mastered the Avatar.

Background / History

Shrek disciple and the failed Soul Hunt

Yan Shaozhe introduces Ma Xiaotao to Jiang Hao before a Soul Ring expedition. Xuan Zi takes charge of both children, but the expedition ends in disaster. Xiaotao survives an encounter with a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast because a senior sister shields her; Jiang Hao and his Clones subsequently care for her while she is unconscious 3 7 8.

Upon returning to Shrek, she asks Yan Shaozhe to punish Xuan Zi. Her gratitude toward Jiang Hao develops into protective familiarity: she gives him a phoenix-embroidered handkerchief and tells him to invoke her protection if other students threaten him. She also announces that she will enter the Inner Court that year 8 9.

On a later forest expedition, she fights alongside Jiang Hao and absorbs the Lava Scorpion ring chosen for her fourth Soul Skill. Yan Shaozhe bases her planned ring configuration on archival records concerning Ma Hongjun 11 12.

Leaving her teacher’s household

Ma Xiaotao repeatedly ambushes Zhou Yi, who has been calling her an Evil Soul Master. Yan Shaozhe reprimands her and cuts off her allowance. Angry, Xiaotao moves out and eventually occupies Jiang Hao’s house, where her attempts at cooking destroy his kitchen 52.

Jiang Hao’s insistence on self-reliance makes her question whether she has become a burden to her teacher. After considering Soul Hunting work, she accepts employment at Jiang Hao’s restaurant for ten percent of its profits, with food and lodging included. Although hired as a bodyguard, she also serves customers, collects payment, and clears tables 53 54.

Her faith in Shrek weakens further when she learns that one of its businesses has withheld Jiang Nannan’s wages. She independently breaks into the Treasure Gathering Pavilion and encounters a disguised Jiang Hao during his own robbery. She does not recognize him; he helps her escape and, using Banner Bro’s power, draws out her Evil Fire. His claim to be Soul Hall’s “Banner Protector” introduces her to an apparent alternative to Shrek 56 57 58.

Evil Fire crisis and rescue

During a confrontation with Elder Shi, outside Soul Power throws Xiaotao’s accumulated Evil Fire into chaos. Her phoenix becomes black, and she loses control, tearing into Jiang Hao. Yan Shaozhe restores her awareness with light-aspected Soul Power, but the Evil Fire has already fused completely with her. Horrified, she tries unsuccessfully to treat Jiang Hao’s wounds 60 61.

Xuan Zi labels both victims Evil Soul Masters. Mu En initially authorizes the public destruction of their Martial Souls while forbidding their deaths; subsequent preparations describe the event as an execution. Yan Shaozhe rejects the proposed destruction of Xiaotao’s Martial Soul and ultimately attacks Xuan Zi to rescue her 62 63 66.

The rescue draws in the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, the Body Sect, and Jiang Hao’s allies. Du Busi carries the unconscious prisoners away from the immediate fighting, and Xiaotao later reunites with Yan Shaozhe aboard the rescuers’ train 68 71.

A new home with the Fatui

Yan Shaozhe initially proposes hiding in the mountains, believing no organization will accept Xiaotao. Owl Bro and Banner Bro challenge that assumption, arguing that an Evil Martial Soul is a kind of power rather than a moral verdict. Xiaotao embraces their interpretation and urges her teacher to accept the Fatui’s offer 72.

Yan joins on the condition that he personally oversee her Evil Fire and affirm that she is not an Evil Soul Master. He later seeks a better cultivation environment for her and proposes establishing an academy. At Cassell Saint Freya Academy, Xiaotao trains with Jiang Hao and his companions, captains a sparring team, and develops her aerial combat style 72 82 128 129 130 135.

Challenging the Xuanming Sect

Representing Cassell College, Xiaotao destroys the Xuanming Sect’s signboard, uproots its stone gate, and carries it into the sect grounds. Her Demon Phoenix Evil Fire burns away the corrupt aura of two attacking disciples, whom she kills with one punch. She condemns the sect’s cultivation through women’s souls and lives, and questions Shrek’s failure to eliminate it 133.

She then accepts a duel against Fourth Elder Xu Fugui under a level-sixty Soul Power restriction. The terms prevent the elder from using his Martial Soul Avatar, while limiting her comparatively little. Xiaotao combines black flames, repeated aerial strikes, and her Breaking Army Soul Bone skill to kill him; Yan Shaozhe blocks the other elders from retaliating outside the match’s rules 134 135.

Reunion and return to Shrek

Several years after their separation, Xiaotao reunites with Xixi, Ling Luochen, Chen Zifeng, Gongyang Mo, and Yao Haoxuan at the Adventurers’ Guild. She joins their commission against Evil Soul Masters and reveals her Flame Nawa Battle Armor during a fight with a tree-shaped creature and Wolf Bandits. In Red City, her ominous aura still attracts accusations, which she counters with her purple Guild badge 143 146 147 148.

She later returns to Shrek with Cassell College’s party, announces herself with a Soul Guidance Bomb, and kicks down the academy’s signboard. Yan Shaozhe demands that Shrek clear her name and make Xuan Zi apologize. Xiaotao defeats Dai Yueheng in one move without releasing her Martial Soul; when Zhang Lexuan is sent to face her, Zhang instead defects and embraces her 150 151 152.

Shrek eventually concedes defeat, and Xuan Zi issues a public apology. Xiaotao subsequently fights Sun Moon Empire troops with her Martial Soul Avatar and two Soul Tool Light Swords 157 158 163.

Appearance

Ma Xiaotao first appears as a graceful figure dressed in fiery red. After her Evil Fire fully integrates, she wears a black-and-flame coat; her petite, doll-like stature contrasts with her destructive power 3 71.

• Phoenix-shaped eyes are noted during her conversation about Jiang Hao’s business plans 53.
• Black phoenix wings and pitch-black flames accompany her later combat form 128 130.
• Crimson metallic armor replaces her usual flame-wreathed appearance when she activates Flame Nawa 147.

Personality

Xiaotao is proud, hot-tempered, and openly confrontational. She repeatedly attacks Zhou Yi despite punishment, reacts possessively when Wu Feng threatens Jiang Hao, and later challenges entire institutions by destroying their signboards. Her aggression also serves a protective impulse: she demands accountability after the failed Soul Hunt and becomes furious over Jiang Nannan’s withheld wages 8 15 52 56 133 150.

Her confidence initially rests on a sheltered life under Yan Shaozhe. Losing her allowance exposes her lack of experience with money and cooking, while Jiang Hao’s example prompts genuine anxiety about burdening her teacher. She nevertheless adapts to restaurant work and takes pleasure in earning her own living 52 53 54.

Her later confidence is more deliberate. She studies unfavorable matchups, chooses duel restrictions that neutralize an opponent’s advantage, and selects teammates for control and endurance rather than offense alone. After years of hardship, she holds that power’s morality depends on its wielder’s choices—not its attribute or appearance 129 134 143.

Abilities & Skills

Evil Fire Phoenix and Ultimate Fire

• Flame projection: Uses concentrated fire lines, fireballs, and broad-area flames against enemies 11 57 146.
• Corrupt-aura destruction: Demon Phoenix Evil Fire burns away the Xuanming Sect disciples’ dark-water and vengeful-soul aura before it can affect her 133.
• Flight: Phoenix wings support airborne attacks, pursuit, and repeated gliding strikes 61 130 135.
• Flame retrieval: After burning a wooded area, she swallows the remaining flames 146.
• Elemental limits: Ultimate Ice can resist her black flames. The Xuanming Turtle’s attributes also present a dangerous matchup, especially when combined with its Martial Soul Avatar 128 134.
• Control risk: Before achieving control, suppression and outside Soul Power can destabilize her Evil Fire. Complete fusion initially produces a violent loss of awareness 60 61.

Documented Soul Skills

Skill	Slot / Type	Demonstrated effect or qualification
Phoenix Fire Line	First Soul Skill	Projects phoenix fire; burns and knocks a wolf into nearby bushes during the forest expedition 11.
Phoenix Wings Soaring	Soul Skill; slot unspecified	Supports repeated glides while she keeps Xu Fugui airborne with successive blows 135.
Phoenix Roaring Sky Strike	Fourth Soul Skill	Used in close-range phoenix attacks, including the finishing strike against Xu Fugui 131 135.
Phoenix Cloud-Piercing Strike	Identified as Fifth Soul Skill in sparring	Layered with Phoenix Roaring Sky Strike during her attack on Jiang Hao’s team 131.
World-Destroying Black Flame	Identified as Fifth Soul Skill in the Xuanming duel	Amplifies flames formed from her Soul Power to 2.5 times their original power 135.
Phoenix Meteor Shower	Sixth Soul Skill	Launches a barrage of fiery meteors; places heavy strain on Xu Jiujiu’s Star’s Protection during sparring 130 135.
Martial Soul Avatar	Seven-ring ability	Used in academy sparring and on the battlefield; described as not yet mastered during the Xuanming challenge 131 134 163.

• Naming discrepancy: The passages identify both Phoenix Cloud-Piercing Strike and World-Destroying Black Flame as her Fifth Soul Skill; they do not explain the difference 131 135.
• Planned fourth skill: Phoenix Sky-Shattering Strike is the hoped-for result of the Lava Scorpion ring, not a confirmed acquisition in the absorption scene 12.

Aerial Combat and Phoenix Annihilation Strike

• Airborne lockdown: Repeated punches and glides keep an opponent aloft, denying footing and normal mobility. Xiaotao develops this approach through sparring and compares it to Wooden Door Bro’s spatial displacement tactics 135.
• Phoenix Annihilation Strike: A Self-Created Soul Skill delivered through a backflip and a powerful heel strike to the opponent’s spine 135.
• Team leadership: Coordinates frontline attacks with support and control fighters; her team selections account for prolonged combat and elemental counters 128 129 130.

Breaking Army

• Granted by her thirty-thousand-year Blazing Dragon Horse right-leg Soul Bone, supplied by the Star Luo Empire 135.
• Guarantees that her next attack penetrates the opponent’s defense, unless that defense is Absolute Defense 135.
• Enables her finishing Phoenix Roaring Sky Strike against Xu Fugui despite his defensive and water-prison techniques 135.

Flame Nawa Battle Armor

• A Fatui-made, summoning-type Battle Armor powered by refined Elemental Power 147.
• Its giant axe delivers a ground strike that erupts magma and engulfs the surrounding battlefield in fire 147.
• Requires elemental compatibility with its user. The available armor types at that point are water, wind, rock, and fire 147.
• Xiaotao describes its power as decent but its mechanics as poor 147.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Red phoenix handkerchief — Poorly embroidered with a golden-red phoenix; given to Jiang Hao as a token of her protection 9.
• Blazing Dragon Horse right-leg Soul Bone — Thirty-thousand-year bone granting Breaking Army 135.
• Flame Nawa summoning armor and giant axe — Fatui elemental equipment used against the tree-shaped creature and Wolf Bandits 147.
• Purple Adventurers’ Guild badge — Used to establish her legitimacy when Red City residents mistake her for an Evil Soul Master 148.
• Fire Vision — Embedded at the small of her back; glows as she defeats Dai Yueheng without releasing her Martial Soul 151.
• Two Soul Tool Light Swords — Wielded while attacking Sun Moon Empire Soul Engineers in her Martial Soul Avatar 163.

Relationships

• Yan Shaozhe — Teacher and protector. Their dispute over her behavior pushes her toward independence, but he later defies Shrek to rescue her and stakes his life on obtaining her public vindication 3 52 66 72 151.
• Jiang Hao — Rescuer, employer, sparring rival, and long-term combat partner. Her protective teasing develops into trust; years of fighting together give them an unspoken tactical understanding 8 9 54 128 148.
• Zhang Lexuan — Senior schoolmate and friend. Participates in the early expeditions and later chooses to embrace Xiaotao rather than fight her on Shrek’s behalf 8 12 152.
• Xuan Zi — Antagonist. His failed protection nearly kills her, and he later brands her an Evil Soul Master and takes her into custody. She returns to challenge him and demand accountability 8 62 150.
• Mu En — Former institutional authority. Authorizes the destruction of her Martial Soul, then later accepts a wager requiring Shrek to declare her innocent if Yan Shaozhe’s side wins 62 63 151.
• Owl Bro and Banner Bro — Allies who offer acceptance beyond Shrek and help her understand Evil Fire as power rather than proof of wickedness. Banner Bro also becomes a formidable sparring opponent 72 128.
• Ice Bro — Training teammate whose Ultimate Ice can counter her Ultimate Fire; she selects him early for her sparring team 128.
• Xixi, Ling Luochen, Chen Zifeng, Gongyang Mo, and Yao Haoxuan — Former Shrek companions who search for her after their expulsion and warmly reunite with her through the Adventurers’ Guild 73 143.
• Du Busi — Rescue ally and later travelling companion. Protects her from Xuan Zi’s interference during the return to Shrek 68 143 150 152.

Notable Quotes

“It's just a Self-Created Soul Skill, isn't it? Wait and see. I'll create one too!” 54

“Ma Xiaotao of Cassell College is here to block the Xuanming Sect's gates!”
“Who dares come out and face me?” 133

“Who else?” 151