Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Yu Xiaogang (玉小刚)
Alias(es)	Grandmaster; “the theoretical master who taught a god” 1 2
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Shrek Academy; instructor to the Shrek Seven Monsters 1 8
Occupation/Role	Martial soul theorist and teacher; creator and advocate of the Ten Core Theories of Martial Souls 1 2
Martial Soul	Luo Sanpao 5 6
Soul Power	Rank 29 Soul Grand Master; reportedly remained at this rank by age fifty 2 3
Status	Active; leaves Shrek Academy alongside Tang Hao, Tang San, and Xiao Wu 34
First Appearance	Chapter 1, “I Taught a God”

Background / History

Tang San's master

Yu Xiaogang presents himself as a lifelong martial soul theorist, repeatedly invoking his Ten Core Theories of Martial Souls as proof of his expertise. Before the Heavenly Curtain's appearance, he was already instructing the newly formed Shrek Seven Monsters and claiming that his theories would transform the Douluo Continent 1.

The Heavenly Curtain identifies him as the teacher who “raised Tang San into a God King.” It recounts that Yu Xiaogang saved Tang San during their first meeting at Notting College, recognized—or guessed—Tang San's Twin Martial Souls, and secured Tang San as his disciple 3. Yu treats Tang San's predicted godhood as the ultimate validation of his own theories 2 8.

First soul-ring hunt

When Tang San needed his first soul ring, Yu Xiaogang initially recommended that the Innate Full Soul Power, Twin Martial Souls prodigy absorb a Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo for its toughness and alleged compatibility with Blue Silver Grass 3 4. Tang Hao secretly followed them and prevented this outcome by capturing and delivering a Mandala Snake instead 4.

During the encounter with the century-old Mandala Snake, Yu Xiaogang panicked, used Luo Sanpao's smoke-producing ability to flee, and was nearly swallowed after stumbling. Six-year-old Tang San saved him with hidden weapons and Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, then killed the snake 5 6. Yu subsequently urged Tang San to absorb the Mandala Snake's soul ring, calling it a perfect match for Blue Silver Grass 7.

Exposure by the Heavenly Curtain

The Heavenly Curtain's broadcasts undermine Yu Xiaogang's public image. Its revelations expose his proposed Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo ring, lack of combat ability, and dependence on Tang San during the Mandala Snake incident 4 5 6. Yu dismisses much of the broadcast as slander or speculation, while continuing to insist that he trained a god 3 6.

The exposure also strains his relationship with Tang San. After the Curtain alleges that Tang San once aimed a hidden weapon at him, the two maintain a public display of mutual trust because both believe their future ambitions depend on preserving the master-disciple bond 7 8.

Departure from Shrek Academy

After Xiao Wu's identity as a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast is exposed, Yu Xiaogang insists that Shrek Academy must protect her despite the danger posed by the entire continent learning her location 32. When Tang Hao arrives to remove Tang San and Xiao Wu from Shrek, Yu Xiaogang demands to accompany them, citing his responsibility as Tang San's teacher and his role in “raising a god” 34.

Tang Hao accepts him after considering the possibility that Yu Xiaogang's guidance is necessary for Tang San's future godhood. Yu Xiaogang departs without saying goodbye to Flender, leading Flender to permanently sever their friendship 34.

Personality

Yu Xiaogang is intensely prideful about his theoretical work and highly sensitive to challenges to his authority. When questioned about the Heavenly Curtain, he avoids giving a direct answer, then redirects the Shrek students into special training 1. He repeatedly cites Tang San's foretold godhood as proof that his theories must be correct 2 6.

He is also stubborn and ambitious. Flender warns him that Tang San is dangerous and abnormal, but Yu Xiaogang refuses to listen because he is determined to cultivate Tang San into a god and ascend to the Divine Realm as that god's teacher 8. His treatment of Flender worsens after learning of Tang San's future Dual God Positions, as he becomes dismissive of a friend he no longer considers useful 20.

Despite these self-serving motives, Yu Xiaogang takes a firm stance that Xiao Wu should be protected as a Shrek student after her soul beast identity is revealed 32.

Abilities & Skills

Ten Core Theories of Martial Souls

Yu Xiaogang's principal field is martial soul theory. He claims to have spent decades researching spirit masters and regards his Ten Core Theories of Martial Souls as his life's work 1 2.

• Uses theoretical compatibility to recommend soul rings and training methods.
• Claimed the Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo suited Tang San's Blue Silver Grass because of its toughness 3 4.
• Declared the Mandala Snake a perfect fit for Blue Silver Grass after Tang San killed it 7.
• His first-ring recommendation and practical judgment are publicly questioned by the Heavenly Curtain and Shrek students 4 6.

Luo Sanpao

Yu Xiaogang's martial soul is Luo Sanpao, whose displayed abilities are centered on noxious gas 5 6.

• Can be fed white radishes before releasing a powerful cloud of foul yellow smoke 5.
• Yu uses the smoke as a means of escape when faced with the Mandala Snake 5.
• Luo Sanpao attempted to shield Yu from the snake but was overwhelmed and returned to Yu as purple light 6.
• Yu Xiaogang claims that he sacrificed personal soul-ring development for theoretical experimentation and admits that combat is not his specialty 6.

Teaching and Training

Yu Xiaogang oversees the Shrek Seven Monsters' training and uses physically demanding exercises, including running with baskets or stones 1 8 12.

• Attempts to leverage Tang San's foretold success to make the other students accept his methods 2 8.
• Orders the group to resume training after the Heavenly Curtain begins exposing his past 8.
• His running-based regimen is later criticized by the Heavenly Curtain as a longstanding Shrek practice 11.

Relationships

• Tang San — His formal disciple and the centerpiece of Yu Xiaogang's ambition. Yu believes Tang San's future God King status proves his own worth, while their relationship becomes strained and performative after the Heavenly Curtain's revelations 3 7 8.
• Flender — Former close friend and fellow Shrek teacher. Flender repeatedly warns Yu Xiaogang about Tang San, but Yu rejects his concerns; their friendship ends when Yu leaves Shrek without farewell 8 20 34.
• Tang Hao — Tang San's father. Tang Hao distrusts Yu Xiaogang's competence after secretly preventing Tang San from absorbing the Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo, but later permits him to accompany the group because of the predicted path to godhood 4 34.
• Xiao Wu — Shrek student. Yu Xiaogang insists that Shrek Academy protect her after learning she is a reincarnated Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast 32.
• Bibi Dong — She recognizes Yu Xiaogang's theories as the work he devoted his life to and initially regards the claim that he taught a god as proof that he succeeded 2.
• Shrek Seven Monsters — His students at Shrek Academy. Their initial respect erodes as the Heavenly Curtain reveals his proposed soul-ring choice and inability to handle the Mandala Snake 2 4 6.

Notable Quotes

“I, Yu Xiaogang, trained a god!” 6

“I am Xiao San's teacher. I am the one who taught a god into existence!” 8

Trivia

• The Heavenly Curtain introduces Yu Xiaogang as “the theoretical master who taught a god,” making him the subject of its first featured broadcast 1.
• The broadcast repeatedly depicts him with a pink forehead tattoo, peace signs, and his tongue out; Yu Xiaogang insists that image is fabricated 3 20.
• Flender recalls Yu Xiaogang once claiming that his first soul ring came from a hundred-year bamboo shoot 5.