Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Yu Xiaogang (玉小刚) 17
Alias(es)	Master; Xiao Gang 17
Gender	Male 35
Affiliation	Shrek Academy; later associated with the merged Blue Tyrant Academy–Shrek Academy 17 55
Occupation/Role	Soul Master theorist, instructor, and Tang San's teacher 17 18
Status	Alive; sought treatment at the Sacred Medical Hall with Liu Erlong 115
First Appearance	Chapter 16 16

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Level 30 / Soul Elder	35	Broke through a decades-long Level 29 bottleneck after cultivating the Sunflower Manual; absorbed a thousand-year soul ring and gained a third ring. 35

Background / History

Yu Xiaogang's cultivation was permanently stalled at Level 29 because of a defect in his Martial Soul. During the years when he, Flender, and Liu Erlong travelled as the Golden Iron Triangle, they searched widely for a solution but failed; after their separation, Xiaogang became increasingly despondent. 35

Unable to ignore Tang San's difficulties within Shrek Academy, Xiaogang travelled there at Flender's request. He took responsibility for the fractured Shrek Seven Devils, particularly because Tang San was the student in whom he had placed his hopes of proving himself. 16 17

At Shrek, Xiaogang presented his Soul Ring age-limit theory, only to be confronted with evidence of Ye Feng's thousand-year first and second rings and ten-thousand-year third ring. Unable to explain the anomaly, he proposed that Ye Feng possessed Twin Martial Souls and might actually be a Soul King or stronger. 17

Ye Feng secretly bestowed the Sunflower Manual upon him at the Suo Tuo Great Soul Fighting Arena. Xiaogang believed it might be a hidden talent of his own Martial Soul, then discovered that it finally allowed his stagnant Soul Power to grow. 18 21 He broke through to Level 30 and absorbed a thousand-year soul ring, but later realized that the manual had permanently taken away his sexual ability. 35 A physician at the Sacred Medical Hall confirmed that the condition was irreversible. 115

Appearance

Yu Xiaogang is described as a middle-aged man. At Shrek Academy, he has a hollow, listless appearance, with slightly sunken eye sockets and a habitual gesture of rubbing his waist. 17 18

• His depleted appearance is noticeable during the Shrek Seven Devils' assembly. 17
• Following the Sunflower Manual's side effect, his complexion becomes markedly pale. 35

Personality

Xiaogang is deeply invested in Tang San's success and views him as the key to restoring his own standing. Tang San's emotional problems and defeats therefore cause Xiaogang particular anxiety. 17 20

He is proud of his theoretical research and confidently presents calculated Soul Ring limits as broadly applicable. When Ye Feng's rings contradict those limits, however, Xiaogang is visibly shaken and hastily offers a Twin Martial Souls explanation rather than admitting uncertainty. 17

As an instructor, he places great faith in discipline, teamwork, and post-battle analysis. He repeatedly tries to keep the Shrek Seven Devils united, but is unable to prevent their conflicts from escalating into violence and departures. 18 20 41 42

Abilities & Skills

Soul Master Theory

Yu Xiaogang is recognized at Shrek as a theorist of Martial Souls and Soul Ring absorption. 17

• Calculates proposed Soul Ring age limits: 423 years for the first ring, 764 for the second, and 1,760 for the third. 17
• Explains the concept and advantages of Twin Martial Souls. 17
• His established limits fail to account for Ye Feng's ring configuration. 17

Teaching and Tactical Guidance

Xiaogang oversees Shrek's combat training and seeks to improve students through practical battles. 18

• Watches battles and provides post-battle summaries. 18
• Emphasizes that coordinated teams can overcome stronger individual opponents. 20 21
• Attempts to mediate disputes among the Shrek Seven Devils and maintain them as a combat-ready unit. 17 20 41

Sunflower Manual Cultivation

The Sunflower Manual allowed Xiaogang to overcome his Martial Soul-related Level 29 bottleneck. 18 35

• Improved his aptitude sufficiently to reach Level 30 and absorb a thousand-year soul ring. 35
• Its stated cost was the loss of “some unimportant things,” which Xiaogang initially disregarded. 18 21
• The technique caused irreversible sexual dysfunction. 35 115

Items

• Sunflower Manual — A purple cultivation-method trait secretly given to Xiaogang by Ye Feng. It improved his aptitude and enabled his breakthrough, but inflicted an irreversible side effect. 18 35 115

Relationships

• Tang San — His disciple and the person on whom Xiaogang places his greatest hopes; Tang San's setbacks strongly affect him. 17 20
• Flender — Best friend and fellow former member of the Golden Iron Triangle. Flender asks Xiaogang to help stabilize Shrek and personally assists him in obtaining his third Soul Ring. 16 17 35
• Liu Erlong — Former companion and persistent romantic pursuer. She leaves Blue Tyrant Academy to find him, remains despite his rejection, and later seeks treatment for his condition. 35 55 115
• Ye Feng — Secretly bestowed the Sunflower Manual on Xiaogang; Ye Feng's unprecedented Soul Rings also undermine Xiaogang's established theories. 17 18
• Shrek Seven Devils — Their instructor and would-be mediator; he repeatedly urges them to act as partners, but their divisions worsen. 17 20 41 42

Story Role / Major Arcs

Shrek Academy Intervention

Xiaogang arrives at Shrek after Flender reports severe internal problems among the students. He takes over instruction, investigates the group's fractured dynamics, and focuses especially on protecting Tang San's development. 16 17

Ye Feng's Challenge to His Theory

The Shrek students' account of Ye Feng's Soul Rings directly contradicts Xiaogang's absorption-limit research. Xiaogang rejects the evidence at first, then attributes Ye Feng's power to a presumed Twin Martial Soul. 17

Breakthrough and Consequence

After receiving the Sunflower Manual, Xiaogang cultivates it in secret and finally breaks through from Level 29 to Level 30. The success comes at the cost of an irreversible condition that later devastates both him and Liu Erlong. 21 35 115

Shrek's Collapse and Merger

Xiaogang fails to contain the escalating conflict among the Shrek Seven Devils, including Dai Mubai's violence toward Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing. After Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong leave, Shrek merges with Blue Tyrant Academy under Liu Erlong's support. 41 42 55

Notable Quotes

“From today onwards, I, Yu Xiaogang, am no longer a waste!” 21

“You are partners! What did I teach you before!” 20