Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Yu Xiaogang (玉小刚)
Alias(es)	Master
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan; Notting City Elementary Academy 38 47
Occupation/Role	Martial Soul theory scholar; Tang San's teacher
Status	Deceased; killed by Bibi Dong during her beastified rampage 227
First Appearance	Chapter 46

Background / History

Yu Xiaogang came from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and studied Spirit Hall's archives. He later published the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul, combining accurate material from those archives with unverified conjecture. You Chen refuted the work when he was twelve, arguing that its compatibility claims could lead soul masters to absorb unsuitable rings and suffer fatal consequences. Xiaogang's resulting reputation among scholars and Spirit Hall personnel was that of an academic fraud. 47 48 50

Despite his poor standing, Xiaogang retained broad theoretical knowledge from his clan and Spirit Hall education. He was able to identify Tang San's Twin Martial Souls from a proof-of-identity document and recognized the Mandala Snake as a suitable source for Tang San's first soul ring. 47 52

At Notting City, Xiaogang encountered Tang San and accepted him as his disciple. When You Chen, acting through You Xing, exposed Xiaogang's history, Tang San refused to abandon him, declaring that a teacher was a father for life. Xiaogang was deeply moved, having feared he would lose the talented disciple who could restore his standing. 46 48

You Chen subsequently orchestrated a campaign against Xiaogang, including Spirit Hall's prohibition on his entry. Xiaogang correctly identified You Chen as the figure behind the pressure but could not openly retaliate. 73 75

His humiliation escalated after he was beaten by students and later defeated by a one-ring Soul Master despite being a two-ring Soul Grandmaster. Public ridicule and rumors surrounding his relationship with Bibi Dong eventually left him fearful of other people's gaze; he shut himself indoors and relied heavily on Tang San's presence. 52 124

After leaving Notting City with Tang San, Xiaogang continued to guide him but struggled to provide effective answers for Tang San's cultivation. Tang San gradually decided to make his own choices regarding his Martial Souls rather than follow Xiaogang's direction unquestioningly. 119 175

Xiaogang remained fiercely protective of Tang San at Shrek Academy. When Dai Mubai accused Tang San of castrating him, Xiaogang concluded that Tang San was likely responsible and chose to frame another person rather than endanger his disciple. 188

Bibi Dong ultimately killed Xiaogang while under the effects of the Happy Valley effect and in a beastified state. She regained awareness to find his upper body in her claw, then killed Liu Erlong after deciding that no witness could be allowed to know what had happened. 227

Appearance

Yu Xiaogang is a middle-aged man whose unkempt presentation frequently reinforces others' poor first impressions of him. 46

• Scruffy and plainly dressed, with a disheveled appearance that led Xiao Wu to mistake his meeting with Tang San for coercion. 46
• Often has messy facial hair and an unwashed, impoverished-looking appearance. 124
• Following the public backlash in Notting City, he became haggard, frail-looking, and marked by deep dark circles. 119
• During his period of isolation, he hid almost completely beneath a blanket, exposing only messy hair and frightened eyes. 124

Personality

Xiaogang is proud, insecure, and intensely dependent on recognition. His poor innate aptitude left him longing for admiration, while his repeated public failures made criticism especially difficult for him to endure. 124

He is defensive when challenged over his theories and reputation. When You Xing exposed his past before Tang San, Xiaogang could not refute the claims; instead, he attempted to preserve his dignity through ambiguity and emotional appeal. 48

His attachment to Tang San is both sincere and self-serving. He works obsessively on Tang San's future soul skills and treats him with paternal warmth, yet he also sees Tang San's talent as a means to validate his own theories and repair his reputation. 48 119

Abilities & Skills

Martial Soul Theory

Xiaogang possesses extensive theoretical knowledge acquired through the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Spirit Hall.

• Identified Tang San as a Twin Martial Soul wielder from his documentation and inferred the exceptional quality of Tang San's second Martial Soul. 47
• Located a Mandala Snake for Tang San's first soul ring after searching through the night. 52
• Retains broad knowledge of Soul Master fundamentals despite the flaws in his published theories. Tang Hao considered this knowledge useful for Tang San's foundational training. 50
• His Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul included unverified compatibility claims that could reduce a soul master's safe ring-absorption limit and potentially cause death. 48

Soul Master Cultivation

Xiaogang is a two-ring Soul Grandmaster, but his practical combat ability is extremely limited. 124

• Lacks meaningful combat experience and becomes timid and restrained in actual fights. 124
• Was beaten by several academy students while calling for Tang San's help. 52
• Lost to a teenage one-ring Soul Master in under two minutes despite his higher cultivation rank. 124

Relationships

• Tang San — His disciple. Tang San remains loyal even after Xiaogang's theories and reputation are publicly challenged, though he later begins making independent cultivation decisions. 48 119
• You Chen — Scholarly adversary. You Chen refuted Xiaogang's published work as a child and later systematically humiliated him through You Xing, Spirit Hall, and public opinion. 47 73 76
• Bibi Dong — Former lover and political supporter during Xiaogang's most favorable period. Her association with him became public scandal, and she ultimately killed him while beastified. 115 122 227
• Flender — Close friend who consults Xiaogang over Dai Mubai's accusation against Tang San and ultimately supports Xiaogang's decision to protect Tang San. 188
• Tang Hao — Tang San's father, who considers Xiaogang a fraud and poor combatant but initially accepts that Xiaogang's accumulated knowledge can still guide Tang San's early development. 50