Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Yu Xiaogang (玉小刚)
Alias(es)	Master; Theory Master
Species/Race	Human Soul Master
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Nuoding Academy; formerly one of the Golden Iron Triangle
Occupation/Role	Master of Nuoding Academy, martial-soul theorist, and mentor
Status	Active; present at Li Yue and Xiao Wu's wedding 151
First Appearance	Chapter 15

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Level 29 Soul Power	27 55	His mutated Martial Soul, Luo San Pao, awakened with only half a level of Innate Soul Power. He remained unable to cross the level-30 threshold for decades.
Level 30 Soul Power	55	After recovering from self-surgery, he cultivated the Great Sun Netherworld Meditation without its previous burning backlash and broke through the level-29 bottleneck.
Soul Elder / Third Soul Ring	124	Absorbed a thousand-year Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Soul Ring. The process was agonizing, but it evolved Luo San Pao into a dragon-like Martial Soul.

Background / History

Yu Xiaogang's Martial Soul mutated into Luo San Pao when he awakened it, leaving him with only half a level of Innate Soul Power. The mutation prevented him from advancing beyond level 29 for much of his life, leading him to focus on martial-soul theory rather than personal cultivation. He researched Soul Rings and Soul Masters extensively, publishing the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul and becoming known as “Master.” 27 28

While serving at Nuoding Academy, Yu Xiaogang intervened when a gatekeeper attempted to expel Li Yue and Tang San. He apologized on the academy's behalf, reprimanded the gatekeeper, and became interested in Li Yue's unusually high Innate Soul Power. 15 16 He incorrectly concluded that Li Yue possessed Twin Martial Souls, then accepted him as a disciple in hopes of nurturing exceptional talent and validating his theories. Tang San subsequently became his second disciple. 16 20

Yu Xiaogang brought both disciples to the Soul Hunting Forest for their first Soul Rings. He initially intended to use Li Yue's ring acquisition to verify his Martial Soul Mimicry Theory, but Li Yue instead developed the Nine Great Theories of Martial Souls. Yu Xiaogang supported their publication, and Li Yue's achievements substantially improved his own scholarly reputation. 28 29 60

After Li Yue revised his Soul Power notes, Yu Xiaogang became captivated by the accelerated cultivation route later named the Great Sun Netherworld Meditation. Repeated circulation injured him, but he chose an extreme surgical solution to remove the method's physical restriction. This allowed him to break through to level 30 and made him a devoted believer in Li Yue's theories. 53 54 55

He later obtained a thousand-year Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Soul Ring with the assistance of Flender and Meng Shu. The ring evolved Luo San Pao into a purple-scaled, winged Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon, restoring Yu Xiaogang's confidence and prompting him to seek recognition from his former Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon family. 124 127

Appearance

During his time at Nuoding Academy, Yu Xiaogang was a lean man in his forties with short black hair and an otherwise ordinary face. His habitual stiff expression and hoarse voice often made his attempts at friendliness appear intimidating rather than approachable. 15 16

• Lean build and short black hair. 15
• Usually wears a rigid, “stiff-faced” expression. 16 31
• His voice is notably hoarse. 15
• After Luo San Pao's evolution, he is described as looking more youthful. 124

Personality

Yu Xiaogang is intensely driven by the need to prove himself. Years of stagnation at level 29 and ridicule over his Martial Soul pushed him toward theory, recognition, and any opportunity to overturn the judgment that he was a failure. His certainty in his own deductions can become overconfidence, as shown by his insistence that Li Yue must have Twin Martial Souls and his willingness to test the Martial Soul Mimicry Theory through his disciple. 16 23 28

Despite his ambition, he values talented disciples and becomes fiercely invested in Li Yue's future. He supplies Li Yue and Tang San with storage devices, research notes, Soul Ring guidance, and practical warnings about the dangers of the Soul Master world. After his breakthrough, he views Li Yue as a spiritual successor more important to him than bloodline inheritance. 23 36 72 107

His experience has made him pragmatic and ruthless in dangerous situations. He teaches his disciples to defend themselves against hostile Soul Masters and personally kills and loots an incapacitated enemy rather than leave a potential threat behind. 36

Abilities & Skills

Luo San Pao

Yu Xiaogang's original mutated beast Martial Soul manifested as a small purple creature resembling a mix of dog and pig, with a bulge on its head. Its initial form was weak and embarrassing, but remained closely linked to Yu Xiaogang's body and Soul Power. 27 55

• Its stench-based Soul Skill can incapacitate opponents, as demonstrated against two Wolf Spirit Masters. 35
• Damage to Luo San Pao also harms Yu Xiaogang, reflecting their shared connection. 55
• After the Great Sun Netherworld Meditation and Yu Xiaogang's breakthrough, Luo San Pao became muscular and far more agile. 77

Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Evolution

After absorbing a thousand-year Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Soul Ring, Luo San Pao evolved into a small dragon with purple scales, wings, electrical power, and a dramatically stronger physique. 124

• Can fly using its dragon wings. 124
• Produces arcs of electricity around its body. 124
• Can use Dragon Breath on Yu Xiaogang's command. 124
• The evolution ended the decades-long stagnation associated with Luo San Pao's former form. 125

Martial-Soul Theory and Research

Yu Xiaogang possesses extensive knowledge of Soul Beast ecology, Soul Ring absorption, and Soul Power cultivation. His research made him a recognized Theory Master despite the disputed quality of some earlier theories. 21 28

• Compiled data establishing a nominal 423-year maximum for a first Soul Ring, though Li Yue later challenged the limitations of this conclusion. 28
• Proposed the Martial Soul Mimicry Theory: plant Martial Souls may absorb beast Soul Rings, while beast Martial Souls may absorb plant Soul Rings. 28
• Identified the possibility that a dragon-type Soul Ring could evolve Luo San Pao. 27
• Provided Li Yue with detailed Soul Power cultivation notes, which Li Yue used as the basis for later improvements. 36 53

Great Sun Netherworld Meditation

Yu Xiaogang practiced the Great Sun Netherworld Meditation after Li Yue developed it from revised Soul Power circulation routes. The method greatly accelerated his cultivation but initially caused internal injuries due to repeated circulation. 53

• Enabled his breakthrough from level 29 to level 30 after he removed its physical impediment. 55
• He later used his experience to guide Ma Hongjun through the same extreme solution for his Martial Soul flaw. 76 78
• Yu Xiaogang deliberately keeps the method's shortcut secret, fearing that widespread knowledge would cause harmful consequences and that Li Yue might imitate him. 72 107

Fieldcraft and Survival

Yu Xiaogang has practical experience from his earlier years in the Golden Iron Triangle and is capable of acting decisively outside formal academy settings. 36

• Warns his disciples not to lower their guard in Soul Beast territory. 28
• Uses Luo San Pao to create openings against hostile Soul Masters. 35
• Kills and loots enemies he considers immediate threats, teaching Li Yue and Tang San to do the same when necessary. 36

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Luxurious short sword — Given to Li Yue so he could personally kill a Soul Beast and claim its Soul Ring. 28
• Storage Spirit Device belts — Yu Xiaogang split the jade components of his twenty-four-slot spatial belt into two twelve-slot belts for Li Yue and Tang San. 23
• Soul Power cultivation notes — His personal research notes on Soul Power circulation, later revised by Li Yue. 36 53

Relationships

• Li Yue — Disciple. Yu Xiaogang recruited him after wrongly deducing that he had Twin Martial Souls; over time, he became deeply proud of Li Yue's theories and regarded him as his spiritual successor. 16 29 107
• Tang San — Second disciple. Yu Xiaogang accepted Tang San after taking Li Yue as his disciple and guided her first Soul Ring acquisition alongside Li Yue's. 20 23 36
• Flender — Former Golden Iron Triangle comrade and close friend. Flender supports Yu Xiaogang's breakthrough and remains concerned by his extreme cultivation choices. 36 76 124
• Ma Hongjun — Flender's disciple whom Yu Xiaogang helps treat for his Evil Fire Phoenix flaw, allowing him to cultivate the Great Sun Netherworld Meditation safely. 72 78 79
• Meng Shu — Assisted Yu Xiaogang in hunting the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon, but clashed with him over the dragon's Soul Bone. 124 127 128
• Bibi Dong — A past acquaintance who confronts him at Li Yue's wedding. Yu Xiaogang stands between her and Xiao Wu when she orders Xiao Wu's arrest. 151

Notable Quotes

“Little Yue, the theory you've put forth might be even more complete than mine.” 28

“If I could break through to level thirty and add a dragon-type Soul Ring to Luo San Pao, perhaps it could transform into a dragon and its Martial Soul would evolve.” 27

“It's all thanks to Yue. If he hadn't reminded me, I wouldn't have thought of attaching a Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Soul Ring.” 125