Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Yu Xiaogang (玉小刚)
Alias(es)	Master; Grandmaster
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy; Shrek Academy; former Honorary Elder of Spirit Hall 6 278
Occupation/Role	Martial Soul theorist; teacher; Tang San's master
Status	Deceased; killed by Tang San in Spirit Hall 280
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Innate Half-Rank Spirit Power	6	His low innate Spirit Power contributed to his fixation on proving himself through theory.
Rank 29 Soul Power	111 165	His cultivation remained below Soul Ancestor level while he taught at Shrek.
Rank 30 Soul Power	264	After accepting power from the mysterious voice associated with his divine trial, his wounds were restored and his Soul Power broke through.

Background / History

Yu Xiaogang left the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan determined to overcome the contempt directed at him and find a way to break through his cultivation limit. While working as low-ranking outer staff in Spirit Hall, he studied its records and developed a relationship with the then-Saintess Bibi Dong. Using her trust, he gained access to classified archives and extracted material for his theories. 278

After fleeing Spirit Hall when his actions were exposed, Yu Xiaogang travelled with Flender and Liu Erlong. He recognized Liu Erlong as a relative through his clan but pursued her anyway, partly to keep Flender from taking away a companion he needed for research and experiments. He later published the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul, much of which came from Spirit Hall records. 278

His reputation collapsed in Nuoding City after Yun Qi exposed him as a plagiarist and accused him of bullying children. Yu Xiaogang admitted that his research had been plagiarized, losing the respect he had held among low-level Spirit Masters. 3 6

At Nuoding Academy, he accepted Tang San as his disciple and came to regard the boy—especially his twin Martial Souls—as his greatest hope of validating his theories. 4 105

Appearance

Yu Xiaogang is described as plain-looking, with a recognizable flat-top haircut and a stiff, rigid expression. 278

• Often has a visibly stiff face or forced smile when trying to preserve his dignity. 105 124
• Was shown in recordings as a younger man with the same plain features and flat-top hairstyle. 278
• Suffered extensive injuries during his imprisonment and later torture in Spirit Hall. 264

Personality

Yu Xiaogang is intensely preoccupied with reputation, recognition, and proving that his theories are correct. His desire to establish himself as a respected Master repeatedly outweighs his responsibility toward others, including his students and former companions. 105 121 278

He frequently attempts to preserve face through excuses, self-justification, or shameless reframing of his actions. After secretly reserving better food for himself, he first claimed it was a test of whether the students cared about him; under Yun Qi's Truth Serum Spell, he instead admitted that he simply wanted to hog the food. 111 112

Despite his selfishness, he is deeply attached to Tang San as both a disciple and the possible proof of his theories. When Bibi Dong threatened Tang San, Yu Xiaogang called him “like a son” and declared he would oppose Spirit Hall at any cost if Tang San were harmed. 264

Abilities & Skills

Martial Soul Theory and Instruction

Yu Xiaogang possesses extensive theoretical knowledge of Martial Souls, though his published work was exposed as being largely derived from Spirit Hall records and containing misleading errors. 278

• Developed and published the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul. 278
• Gives combat critiques focused on coordination, role distribution, and tactical mistakes. 115
• Designed Shrek's training stages, including endurance drills and compulsory Spirit Arena battles. 115 139
• His practical training was repeatedly undermined by poor judgment, excessive intensity, and the students secretly using Soul Power and Oscar's sausages to complete it. 121 124

Cooking

Yu Xiaogang is a capable cook and personally prepared meals for the Shrek students. 111 123

• Prepared a lavish breakfast as an apology after his harsh training nearly endangered the students. 123
• Was praised by the students for his cooking. 123
• Initially gave Yun Qi's group the best portions while serving lesser food to the others. 111 112

Equipment / Items

• Dragon Beard Needle — planted in Yu Xiaogang's dantian by Yun Qi as a precaution. 249
• Shi Nian's soul bone — acquired and fused after his time in the Extreme North Land. 278

Relationships

• Tang San — disciple and the person Yu Xiaogang considered his greatest hope for proving his theories; their relationship collapsed after Tang San learned of Yu Xiaogang's actions and ultimately killed him. 4 105 278 280
• Bibi Dong — former lover and former source of access to Spirit Hall's classified records; she later imprisoned him, revoked his Honorary Elder title, and publicly exposed his past. 264 278
• Liu Erlong — former lover and clan relative whom Yu Xiaogang knowingly approached for personal benefit; she eventually severed her emotional attachment to him. 105 214 241
• Flender — longtime travelling companion and former friend; Flender confronted Yu Xiaogang over his treatment of Liu Erlong and abandoned him in the Extreme North Land. 105 214 218
• Yun Qi — rival and repeated source of Yu Xiaogang's humiliation; Yun Qi exposed his plagiarism, manipulated his confession to Liu Erlong, and helped orchestrate his public disgrace. 3 213 278

Story Role / Major Arcs

Exposure at Nuoding Academy

Yu Xiaogang attempts to recruit Xiao Wu, is rejected, and is publicly humiliated by Yun Qi's exposure of his theories' origins. The incident causes him to faint and begins the destruction of his reputation. 3 6

Tang San's Master

He accepts Tang San as a disciple and focuses on the boy's twin Martial Souls as his opportunity to prove his theories. His relationship with Tang San initially becomes strong despite Yun Qi's hostility toward him. 4 105

Shrek Teacher

Yu Xiaogang joins Shrek as an instructor. His food hoarding, harsh training order, and poor handling of the students provoke hostility; after the students nearly die during his endurance exercise, he apologizes and attempts to regain their trust. 111 121 123 124

Exposure Before Liu Erlong

Flender confronts Yu Xiaogang about abandoning Liu Erlong and using plagiarized knowledge to build his reputation. Later, Yun Qi uses Soul Control to force Yu Xiaogang to confess that he knowingly approached Liu Erlong for his own benefit. 105 213 214

Exile and Enslavement

Flender abandons Yu Xiaogang in the Extreme North Land. After being rescued by a hunting squad, Yu Xiaogang is sold to a slave trader and eventually tortured as a captive of Lord Dai before Yun Qi and Liu Erlong find him. 218 241 242

Spirit Hall Imprisonment and Divine Trial

Yu Xiaogang is imprisoned and tortured in Spirit Hall by Bibi Dong. Driven by hatred and despair, he accepts a mysterious power, reaches Rank 30, and begins the ninth stage of a divine trial. 261 264

Public Judgment and Death

Bibi Dong publicly strips Yu Xiaogang of his Honorary Elder title, presents evidence that he stole Spirit Hall knowledge, and orders the recall of his books. Tang San, having turned against his master, requests the right to execute him; Bibi Dong grants the request, and Tang San tortures Yu Xiaogang to death. 278 280

Notable Quotes

“I just wanted to hog the food!” 112

“Because I'm trash!” 214