Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Yu Xiaogang (玉小刚)
Alias(es)	Master
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Notting Academy (boarder); Shrek Academy
Occupation/Role	Martial Soul theorist; mentor and trainer
Status	Deceased; Bibi Dong later recovered and buried his body after his death in the City of Slaughter 171
First Appearance	Chapter 21

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Soul Grand Master, Rank 29	79	His cultivation stagnated at Rank 29; he was unable to break through the third ring.
Soul Grand Master, Rank 20	123	Lin Ye used the Evil God Hook to devour his soul power and Martial Soul origin, reducing him to Rank 20.

Background / History

Origins and martial-soul research

Yu Xiaogang is the son of Yu Yuanzhen, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Clan’s sect master. He was born with only Innate Level 0.5 Soul Power and possessed the Mutated Martial Soul Luo Sanpao, which prevented him from advancing beyond the Soul Grand Master stage for many years. 88

He built his reputation around Martial Soul theory, researching Twin Martial Souls, mutations, Soul Ring limits, and development paths. His research included data from 647 Blue Silver Grass possessors, which he used to deduce that Tang San possessed a second Martial Soul. 21

During his youth, Yu Xiaogang formed a relationship with Bibi Dong and sought access to the Martial Soul Hall’s Library Pavilion. Their relationship later ended when Bibi Dong—while under Lin Ye’s possession—rejected him and accused him of approaching her for her status and access to the library. 116 117

Tang San's master

At Notting Academy, Yu Xiaogang lived as a boarder rather than an academy teacher. After identifying Tang San as a Twin Martial Soul wielder, he offered to guide the boy’s cultivation. Tang San accepted him as master through a kneeling bow, and Yu Xiaogang resolved to treat him as a son. 21

He took Tang San to the Soul Hunting Forest, advised him to develop Blue Silver Grass as a Control System Martial Soul, and selected a nearly 400-year-old Mandala Snake as Tang San’s first Soul Ring. 26 27 31 Tang San’s resulting ring appeared as a white ten-year ring, causing Yu Xiaogang to doubt his own theory and straining their relationship. 36

Yu Xiaogang later tested the same plant-and-animal Soul Ring theory with another Soul Master and concluded that Tang San’s Martial Soul had an unknown defect instead. His renewed devotion to Tang San gradually restored their bond. 53

Shrek Academy and later downfall

Yu Xiaogang reunited with his old friend Flender at Shrek Academy. He advised Flender on managing Ma Hongjun’s Evil Fire through rigorous physical training and began personally training Tang San, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar with weighted runs. 74

Lin Ye later attacked Yu Xiaogang alongside Flender and Liu Erlong. The Evil God Hook drained Yu Xiaogang’s cultivation to Rank 20, stripped Luo Sanpao of its remaining True Dragon Bloodline, and severed the Martial Soul Fusion connection between Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and Liu Erlong. 123

Yu Xiaogang’s connection with Liu Erlong collapsed after Lin Ye exposed that she was his cousin. Overwhelmed by the revelation and his ruined cultivation, Yu Xiaogang fled. 124

He eventually entered the City of Slaughter, where he was captured in the Outer City, forced to test food for poison, and repeatedly bled to provide Bloody Marys. After a year of captivity, he was emaciated, traumatized, and kept in chains. 141 142 144 A later account states that he ultimately died there before Bibi Dong could find him. 171

Appearance

Yu Xiaogang is initially depicted as an aging, slightly overweight man with an ordinary face, stiff expressions, and a buzz cut. He often attempts to project the bearing of a great master despite his low cultivation. 21 25 116

• Ordinary, unremarkable facial features. 116
• Stiff expression and deliberate, formal posture. 21 116
• Slightly overweight build in later years. 25 90
• Wore a black scholar’s robe during his visit to the Pope’s Palace. 116
• After prolonged imprisonment in the City of Slaughter, became skeletal, sallow, scarred, and collar-bound. 144

Personality

Yu Xiaogang is deeply proud of his theoretical knowledge and craves recognition as a Martial Soul master. He is persistent in defending his theories, even when Tang San’s white Soul Rings leave him unable to explain their failure. 31 36

His mentorship of Tang San is sincere but entangled with personal ambition. Yu Xiaogang hopes Tang San’s future accomplishments will validate his theories and erase his reputation as a failure. 21 90 He nevertheless shows concern for Tang San’s safety, shields him during danger, and continues teaching him despite his own lack of combat ability. 30 84

His confidence often conceals a severe inferiority complex rooted in his weak innate talent and stalled cultivation. When threatened by stronger figures such as Tang Hao or Lin Ye, he becomes fearful and submissive; when his standing or relationships are challenged, he can react with anger, resentment, or despair. 36 79 117

Abilities & Skills

Martial Soul: Luo Sanpao

Luo Sanpao is Yu Xiaogang’s Mutated Martial Soul, originally described as a pig-and-dog hybrid. Despite its appearance, it retained a trace of True Dragon Bloodline until Lin Ye destroyed that origin. 27 123

• Its known offensive skill expels a powerful, foul-smelling blast of gas capable of throwing several Youming Wolves more than ten meters away. 29
• Yu Xiaogang could initially use the attack only three times before exhausting his soul power. 30
• Luo Sanpao restored its expended power by eating White Radishes; two radishes replenished its soul power in roughly half an hour. 30
• Lin Ye’s Evil God Hook reduced Luo Sanpao into an ordinary pig-like Martial Soul with no remaining potential for improvement. 123

Martial Soul Theory

Yu Xiaogang specializes in researching Martial Soul classifications, mutations, Soul Ring absorption, and cultivation paths. 21 26

• Identified Tang San’s Twin Martial Souls from the contradiction between ordinary Blue Silver Grass and Innate Full Soul Power. 21
• Classified Martial Souls into Beast and Tool types, with plant Martial Souls treated as Tool Martial Souls. 26
• Recommended that Tang San develop Blue Silver Grass as a Control System Martial Soul focused on toughness, binding, and poison. 27
• Taught that Soul Rings should follow a consistent development direction to avoid conflicting abilities. 26
• Proposed maximum absorption limits of 423 years for a first Soul Ring and 764 years for a second Soul Ring. 31 42
• Advocated retreat when an opponent’s Soul Rings and Soul Bones significantly outnumber one’s own. 30

Training and instruction

Yu Xiaogang provides practical instruction despite being ineffective in direct combat.

• Led Tang San into the Soul Hunting Forest to obtain his first Soul Ring. 26 31
• Advised Flender to manage Ma Hongjun’s Evil Fire through strenuous physical training. 74
• Trained Tang San, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar through weighted running exercises. 74

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Storage Soul Tool — carried supplies such as fire starters during the Soul Hunting Forest expedition. 30
• White Radishes — used to restore Luo Sanpao’s soul power after its gas-based attacks. 29 30
• Pope’s Order — held a token granting the authority of a Martial Soul Hall Elder. 132

Relationships

• Tang San — His disciple. Yu Xiaogang initially viewed Tang San as a filial son and hoped to use his success to prove his theories; their bond later deteriorated after Tang San blamed him for the white Soul Rings and participated in his torture. 21 36 90 108
• Tang Hao — Tang San’s father and Yu Xiaogang’s idol. Tang Hao held Yu Xiaogang responsible for Tang San’s damaged Soul Rings, threatened him, and later beat him for failing Tang San. 25 36 44
• Flender — Old friend and headmaster of Shrek Academy. Flender relied on Yu Xiaogang’s Martial Soul knowledge and invited him to travel the continent together. 73 74
• Liu Erlong — Former lover and Martial Soul Fusion partner. Their relationship was shattered when Lin Ye revealed that they were cousins. 123 124
• Bibi Dong — Former lover and Martial Soul Hall Saintess. Yu Xiaogang sought her support and access to Martial Soul Hall resources, but their relationship ended in rejection and humiliation. 116 117
• Lin Ye — Hostile adversary who repeatedly humiliated Yu Xiaogang, damaged his cultivation, and destroyed Luo Sanpao’s remaining potential. 79 123 124
• Qian Renxue — Held intense resentment toward Yu Xiaogang because of his connection to Bibi Dong and participated in his imprisonment and torture. 90 92
• Ma Hongjun — A Shrek student whose Evil Fire condition Yu Xiaogang assessed and managed through physical training. 74
• Oscar — A Shrek student placed under Yu Xiaogang’s physical training regimen. 74

Notable Quotes

“There are no waste martial souls, only waste soul masters.” 26

“Life comes first; face is never more important than your life.” 30