Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Yu Xiaogang (玉小刚)
Alias(es)	Master; “continent’s greatest theoretical master”
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Nuoding Academy (theory teacher/guest instructor); Shrek Academy; Magic Academy (auditor)
Occupation/Role	Martial Soul theorist; prospective mentor
First Appearance	39

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Soul Grandmaster	139 140	His mutated martial soul had previously limited him to below level 30; he was mocked for reaching Soul Grandmaster only after age fifty.
Level 70 Soul Sage	282 283 408 410	Voldemort granted him immense power and restored Luo Sanpao into a powerful dragon Martial Soul, called the Sacred Giant Dragon during his confrontation with Zhuang Ming and the Golden Holy Dragon in later appearances. Despite this, Zhuang Ming suppressed the dragon Martial Soul and defeated him easily; Tang San later severely injured him as well.

Background / History

Yu Xiaogang was reborn on the day Tang San was due to enter Nuoding Academy, retaining memories of a former life in which he had been Tang San’s teacher. In that life, Tang San ascended as the Sea God and Asura God while Yu Xiaogang remained mortal, leaving him obsessed with attaining godhood and eternal life for himself. 39

At Nuoding Academy, he recognized Tang San and Lin Yue as exceptional talents and personally assisted their enrollment. He intended to bind both children to himself: Tang San as his anticipated route to the God Realm, and Lin Yue as an additional genius and contingency. 39

His attempts to recreate his former bond with Tang San failed. His claim that Tang San possessed Twin Martial Souls was only a guess, and Lin Yue publicly challenged his theoretical authority with prior written material. Tang San listened to him only selectively, taking potentially useful information while refusing to acknowledge him as a master. 40 41 45 67

After two and a half years without winning Tang San over, Yu Xiaogang returned to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. He offered Yu Yuanzhen information about the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well and its immortal herbs, hoping to restore both his status and Martial Soul. The site had already been stripped bare, however, and Yu Yuanzhen expelled him from the clan. 68 69 70

Appearance

Yu Xiaogang is a middle-aged man of average height and plain appearance. He wears simple robes and is repeatedly described as haggard or disheveled after his setbacks. 39 71 83

• Somewhat gray hair, later with more than half of it gray. 39 83
• Sickly-pale complexion. 39
• Exceptionally deep eyes that can appear gentle, obsessive, or malicious. 39 140
• Delicate appearance caused Bu Le’s group to mistake him for a woman. 86

Personality

Yu Xiaogang is intensely ambitious, prideful, and unwilling to accept personal limitations. His rebirth does not make him more reflective; instead, he treats his prior knowledge as leverage to acquire talented disciples, resources, power, and ultimately godhood. 39 67 68

He is fixated on external recognition. When Tang San rejects him, he seeks other gifted subjects—such as Luolock—to validate and expand his Martial Soul theories. Public challenges to his work repeatedly provoke humiliation, resentment, and vows of revenge rather than self-criticism. 45 83 86 91 140

His desperation steadily escalates after his expulsion and repeated public failures. He pursues Bibi Dong based on assumptions from his previous life, clings to the hope that she will rescue him even while imprisoned, and later accepts Voldemort’s offer of power without hesitation. 70 141 143 145 281

Even after gaining Soul Sage-level power, Yu Xiaogang remains impulsive and tactically incompetent. He flaunts his power in Spirit City to intimidate Tang San, inadvertently alerts nearby patrols, and is quickly outmaneuvered, injured, and detained. 408 409 410

Abilities & Skills

Rebirth Knowledge

Yu Xiaogang retains memories of his prior life and uses them to pursue opportunities that had once benefited Tang San.

• Knows the locations or existence of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, Slaughter City, and Sea God Island. 68 71
• Attempted to use the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well’s immortal herbs to win Tang San’s trust and restore his clan standing. 68 69
• His foreknowledge is unreliable in the altered timeline; the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well had already been emptied before his expedition arrived. 70

Martial Soul Theory

Yu Xiaogang presents himself as a leading Martial Soul theorist and has spent decades studying martial soul compatibility and soul beasts.

• Offers assessments of soul beasts suitable for Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass, including the Mandala Snake and Ghost Vine. 45
• Developed and promotes the “Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul.” 39 83
• Publicly theorized about detached beast Martial Souls after seeing Luolock’s Magic Cat. 83
• His claims are frequently challenged as flawed, derivative, or common knowledge; Lin Yue used an older book to refute his soul-ring-limit theory. 40 41 45

Golden Holy Dragon Martial Soul

Voldemort restored Yu Xiaogang’s Luo Sanpao Martial Soul into a powerful dragon form. It was initially called the Sacred Giant Dragon, while Yu Xiaogang later identifies it as the Golden Holy Dragon Martial Soul. 281 283 408 410

• Granted him Soul Sage-level power and seven soul rings. 282 283 408
• His first soul skill covers his arm in pale golden dragon scales for defense. 409
• His second soul skill releases golden dragon breath. 409
• His third soul skill manifests a phantom golden dragon claw, though his attacks are broad and full of openings. 409
• Was suppressed by Zhuang Ming’s Dragon-Eating Ant Martial Soul. 283
• Yu Xiaogang lacked the combat ability to effectively use his new strength and was swiftly defeated by Zhuang Ming. 283
• Tang San later exploited his poor control and combat inexperience, restraining him with Blue Silver Grass and severely injuring him with the Clear Sky Hammer. 409 410

Magic Research Aspirations

Yu Xiaogang sought to enter the newly introduced magic system after witnessing its influence.

• He cannot sense magical power and has no magical affinity. 139
• Claimed he could produce a superior magical-theory work within three months despite being unable to use magic. 139
• Luolock refused to teach him magic because of this lack of talent. 139

Equipment / Items

• Martial Soul theory manuscripts — Used in attempts to recruit Tang San and Luolock; one manuscript was publicly read and mocked by Bu Le’s group. 86 91
• Defensive Soul Tool and signal flares — Given by Flender before Yu Xiaogang left Shrek Academy to seek Luolock. 90
• Silver hairpin in a red-lacquered box — Presented at the Papal Palace as an alleged token of love with Bibi Dong. 142 143

Relationships

• Tang San — Yu Xiaogang’s former-life disciple and primary obsession after rebirth. He tries to recreate their teacher-student bond, but Tang San refuses him and only retains information he finds useful. Yu Xiaogang later offers to help him escape Spirit City in exchange for renewed recognition as his master; Tang San instead attacks and severely injures him. 39 40 67 71 408 409
• Lin Yue — A gifted anomaly Yu Xiaogang initially considers recruiting as a backup disciple. She identifies him as a fraud and repeatedly exposes weaknesses in his claims. 39 40 45
• Yu Yuanzhen — His father and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan’s leader. Yu Xiaogang sought reconciliation and support through the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well expedition, but Yu Yuanzhen expelled him after its failure. 68 69 70
• Flender — A close associate who continues to shelter and assist Yu Xiaogang despite his escalating fixation and humiliations. 73 90 91 140
• Zhao Wuji — Alongside Flender, removes Yu Xiaogang from the Magic Academy after his confrontation with Luolock. 140 141
• Bibi Dong — Yu Xiaogang believes she remains his former lover and his final route to power. She does not reciprocate his expectations, rejects him in the Papal Palace, and calls for punishment over his slander. 141 143
• Qian Xunji — Spirit Hall’s Pope who punishes Yu Xiaogang for his conduct and orders his imprisonment in the Black Prison. 143 144
• Liu Erlong — His lover, who remains devoted to him and nurses him after Tang San beats him. Their relationship becomes strained after Yu Xiaogang gains power and discards the soul contract. 280 282
• Voldemort — Grants Yu Xiaogang power, restores his Martial Soul, and heals him; later regards him as worthless in combat but still potentially useful. Yu Xiaogang reveals their bargain during Gui Mengguan’s interrogation. 281 283 410
• Zhuang Ming — Rival for Liu Erlong’s affection who defeats and humiliates Yu Xiaogang despite his newly acquired Soul Sage power. 282 283
• Gui Mengguan, Oupai, and Qian Gujue — Openly disdain Yu Xiaogang, arrange for Bu Le’s group to harass him, and later intervene against him at the Magic Academy. Gui Mengguan subsequently interrogates him regarding the origin of his Soul Sage power and dragon Martial Soul. 89 91 139 410
• Bu Le, E Kao, and Tianya — Hired repeatedly to harass and publicly humiliate Yu Xiaogang in Suotuo City. 86 89 90 91

Story Role / Major Arcs

Attempt to Recruit Tang San

Yu Xiaogang enrolls Tang San and Lin Yue at Nuoding Academy, then attempts to impress Tang San with his Twin Martial Soul theory and recruit him as a disciple. The attempt fails when Tang San recognizes that Yu Xiaogang was guessing and Lin Yue attacks the credibility of his theories. 39 40 41

Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well Expedition

Believing immortal herbs will prove his irreplaceable value, Yu Xiaogang returns to his clan and persuades Yu Yuanzhen to mount an expedition. The well is empty, his claim appears deceptive, and he is expelled. 68 69 70

Pursuit of Tang San and Luolock

After losing Tang San’s trail, Yu Xiaogang follows him toward Suotuo City and attempts to secure a position at Shrek Academy. He later becomes fascinated by Luolock’s detached Martial Soul, hoping to use the child and his theories to rebuild his reputation. 73 83 86

Humiliation in Suotuo City

Bu Le, E Kao, and Tianya repeatedly target Yu Xiaogang for payment, assaulting and publicly humiliating him. The loss of his manuscripts and public ridicule deepen his fixation on revenge and theoretical vindication. 86 89 90 91

Magic Academy Conflict

Yu Xiaogang tries to study magic and claims he can create magical theory despite having no magical affinity. Luolock refuses him, while Gui Mengguan’s group publicly denounces him; he is struck, mocked, and removed by Flender and Zhao Wuji. 129 139 140

Spirit Hall Imprisonment

Convinced Bibi Dong will restore his future, Yu Xiaogang brings a cheap hairpin to the Papal Palace and claims it is their token of love. Bibi Dong rejects him, and Qian Xunji orders his castration and confinement in the Black Prison. 141 142 143 144

Voldemort’s Power Grant

After later reappearing alongside Liu Erlong, Yu Xiaogang accepts Voldemort’s offer to restore his body and Martial Soul. He reaches Soul Sage level, but Zhuang Ming immediately defeats him, exposing his lack of battle competence. 280 281 282 283

Attempt to Renew the Master-Disciple Bond

After acquiring Soul Sage cultivation, Yu Xiaogang approaches Tang San in Spirit City and warns him that his twin brother’s human-beast hybrid identity has been exposed. He offers assistance escaping the city only if Tang San recognizes him as master again, then reveals the Golden Holy Dragon Martial Soul to intimidate him. 408

Tang San rejects him and attacks with poisoned hidden weapons, Blue Silver Grass, and the Clear Sky Hammer. Yu Xiaogang’s uncontrolled release of Soul Power alerts Spirit City patrols; after Tang San escapes, the patrol arrests Yu Xiaogang as a suspected spy and detains him in the Inspection Hall. 409 410

Inspection Hall Interrogation

Gui Mengguan questions Yu Xiaogang about the sudden origin of his Soul Sage cultivation and Golden Holy Dragon Martial Soul. Yu Xiaogang initially claims to have cultivated the power himself, but ultimately reveals that he made a bargain with Voldemort. He refuses to directly identify Tang San as his attacker despite being unable to convincingly deny it. 410