Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Yu Xiaogang (玉小刚)
Alias(es)	Grandmaster; Tang Xiaoyu (female performance alias) 28
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Notting Academy 8 9
Occupation/Role	Martial soul theorist; Soul Master; Tang San's teacher 9 15
Status	Alive (as of Chapter 39) 39
First Appearance	Chapter 8

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Soul Grand Master, Level 29	15	His malignant martial-soul mutation and half-level Innate Soul Power left him unable to cross the level-30 bottleneck. 15 16
Soul Elder, Level 30	30, 31	After cultivating the Evil-Warding Sword Manual, he absorbed a thousand-year Pink Lady soul ring through Luo Sanpao. The process nearly killed him, but Luo Sanpao's unusually high essence allowed the absorption to succeed. 30 31
Soul Elder, Level 35	38	Continued cultivation and the accumulated soul power from his earlier years raised him to level 35 within roughly half a year. 38

Background / History

Yu Xiaogang's martial soul suffered a malignant mutation, and he awakened with only half a level of Innate Soul Power. He nevertheless reached level 29 after more than a decade of cultivation, but remained trapped below level 30 for years. 15 16

His knowledge of martial soul theory came from access to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Martial Soul Hall's books, as well as his travels across the continent with Liu Erlong and Flender. 24 He became known as “Grandmaster” at Notting Academy despite his limited combat strength. 8 9

At Tang San's enrollment, Xiaogang recognized the significance of Blue Silver Grass paired with Innate Full Soul Power and quickly took Tang San as his disciple. He initially mistook Li Ping'an for Tang San based on appearance, then disregarded Li Ping'an after seeing his rank-one Innate Soul Power. 9

Appearance

Yu Xiaogang is a middle-aged man with a melancholy expression, thick lips, and short-cropped hair. Before his breakthrough, he was notably unkempt; the Evil-Warding Sword Manual later changed both his grooming habits and presentation. 8 26

• Initially had greasy cropped hair, stubble, chapped lips, and a plain room. 26
• After cultivating the Evil-Warding Sword Manual, he shaved, grew out his hair, used cosmetics, and became intensely concerned with cleanliness. 26 30
• Often wears bright or red robes after his transformation. 30
• As Tang Xiaoyu, he wears a red dress, wig, cosmetics, veil, and altered eyebrows for sword-dance performances. 28

Personality

Yu Xiaogang is deeply sensitive about being viewed as weak or worthless. Xiao Wu calling him “trash” reawakened memories of being belittled by members of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, while his breakthrough made him declare that he was no longer a failure. 23 25

He seeks validation through both theory and discipleship. Tang San's talent appeals to him not only as a student, but as someone capable of inheriting his knowledge and spreading his name across the continent. 21 24 His admiration for Tang Hao is similarly intense; he readily accepts Tang Hao's requests concerning Tang San. 22 26

Although proud and image-conscious, he is willing to make extreme personal sacrifices for strength and recognition. He accepts the Fame Across the Continent System, cultivates its dangerous technique, and performs under a hidden identity to complete a task. 23 25 28 He still shows genuine concern for Tang San, personally carrying him for treatment after his third soul skill incapacitates him. 32 33

Abilities & Skills

Martial Soul: Luo Sanpao

Yu Xiaogang possesses Luo Sanpao, an external beast martial soul resembling a plump purple dog or pig-like creature. It has light-purple fur, floppy ears, large blue eyes, four short legs, and a bump on its head. 21

• Luo Sanpao acts independently but shares a mental connection with Xiaogang. 21 30
• Damage sustained by Luo Sanpao is reflected onto Xiaogang. 21 30
• Because it is an external martial soul, Xiaogang receives little direct physical enhancement and lacks the strength to complete the full Eighty-One Hammers of the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer. 21 27
• Before his third ring, Luo Sanpao could release soul skills only three times per day. 21

First Soul Skill: Shockwave

Luo Sanpao leaps into the air and releases a yellow shockwave capable of flattening objects in its path. 21 23

• Used offensively against Tang San and defensively to force him back. 21 31
• Requires Xiaogang to chant the skill incantation, creating an opening against fast opponents. 21
• Can injure Xiaogang if Luo Sanpao releases it without a proper target. 23

Second Soul Skill: Hypnotic Mist

Luo Sanpao releases a purple mist that causes hypnosis, dizziness, and sleep. 21

• Effective even against soul beasts with decades or over a century of cultivation. 21
• Tang San's cultivated mental power allows him to resist it and feign incapacitation. 21

Third Soul Skill: *Farting Induces Lust, Passion-Igniting Aphrodisiac Luo Sanpao*

Obtained from a thousand-year Pink Lady soul ring, Xiaogang's third soul skill produces a potent aphrodisiac mist with hallucinogenic and stimulating effects. 30 33

• Its effect overwhelms Tang San during their spar, leaving him injured and unconscious. 31 32
• Xiaogang considers the skill embarrassing because he expected a straightforward invigorating buff instead. 31
• He has not fully researched its effects and initially describes them with uncertainty. 33

Evil-Warding Sword Manual

The Fame Across the Continent System granted Xiaogang the Evil-Warding Sword Manual as a novice reward. It cultivates through the body's meridians rather than relying primarily on the martial soul. 23 24

• Its prerequisite required Xiaogang to castrate himself; after doing so, he could cultivate without the earlier backlash. 23 25
• Helped him overcome the level-29 bottleneck and improved his control over his body and soul power. 24 26
• Influenced his behavior, including his obsession with grooming, fragrance, and cleanliness. 26 30
• Its associated self-created sword technique grants him rapid sword movements. 30 39

Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer

Tang Hao explained the technique's method of exerting force to Xiaogang, who then learned enough to demonstrate and teach it to Tang San. 26 27

• Uses chained hammer strikes and controlled force application. 26 27
• Xiaogang's performance appears dance-like because he focuses excessively on his form and image. 27
• His physical limitations prevent him from sustaining the complete Eighty-One Hammers. 27

Martial Soul Theory

Yu Xiaogang promotes the principle that martial souls are not inherently useless, arguing that proper spirit-ring selection determines a soul master's potential. 15 16

• Advised Tang San to develop Blue Silver Grass as a control-type martial soul. 15
• Believed plant martial souls could absorb animal-type soul rings. 15
• His fixed soul-ring age-limit theories are later challenged by Li Ping'an's manuscript, which argues that absorption capacity depends on the soul master's body, spirit, and martial soul. 39

Fame Across the Continent System

Li Ping'an secretly binds Yu Xiaogang to the Fame Across the Continent System after Xiaogang's confrontation with Xiao Wu and Li Ping'an. 23

• Provides tasks and rewards connected to fame, power, and cultivation. 23 28
• Granted the Evil-Warding Sword Manual as its novice gift. 23
• Its task system motivates Xiaogang to perform sword dances in disguise as Tang Xiaoyu. 28 29

Relationships

• Tang San — His disciple. Xiaogang takes Tang San in after identifying his Innate Full Soul Power, teaches him martial soul theory and the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer, and repeatedly spars with him. 9 15 22 27
• Tang Hao — Xiaogang's idol, the Clear Sky Douluo. Tang Hao entrusts him with helping Tang San while concealing his own identity from the boy. 22 25 26
• Li Ping'an — Xiaogang dismisses him as “trash” because of his rank-one Innate Soul Power; Li Ping'an secretly binds him to the Fame Across the Continent System. 9 23
• Xiao Wu — Xiaogang attempts to recruit her as a disciple due to her Innate Full Soul Power, but she rejects him and openly insults his level and teaching claims. 23
• Notting Academy Dean — A supportive colleague who respects Xiaogang and assists his group during the Star Dou Great Forest expedition. 33 37 39
• Liu Erlong and Flender — Former traveling companions from Xiaogang's journeys across the continent. 24

Story Role / Major Arcs

Tang San's Enrollment and Mentorship

Xiaogang intervenes when a guard obstructs Tang San and Li Ping'an's academy enrollment. After examining Tang San's spirit proof, he identifies his exceptional potential and accepts him as a disciple. 8 9

He accompanies Tang San to the Soul Hunting Forest, offers cultivation theory, and recommends a poisonous beast soul ring for Blue Silver Grass. Tang San's questions about Xiaogang's own unsolved mutation begin to undermine his confidence in his teacher. 15 16

Sparring with Tang San

Xiaogang serves as Tang San's sparring partner, but Tang San uses the sessions to earn system rewards by injuring him. Their first recorded duel ends when Tang San attacks Luo Sanpao and the damage rebounds onto Xiaogang. 21

Despite repeated injuries, Xiaogang continues the arrangement because he sees Tang San's rapid growth. He later gives Tang San the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer manual and teaches him its force application after Tang Hao's guidance. 22 26 27

System Binding and Breakthrough

After Xiao Wu rejects his offer of guidance, Xiaogang binds to the Fame Across the Continent System. Its novice gift, the Evil-Warding Sword Manual, first causes a dangerous cultivation deviation; he later fulfills its condition and uses it to break his long-standing bottleneck. 23 24 25

He absorbs a thousand-year Pink Lady soul ring, becomes a Soul Elder, and tests his new third soul skill against Tang San. The skill incapacitates Tang San, forcing Xiaogang to seek treatment for him. 30 31 32

Tang Xiaoyu Performances

To complete a system task, Xiaogang disguises himself as Tang Xiaoyu and performs a sword dance at a dance hall. His performance earns acclaim throughout Nuoding City, but Tang San, Li Ping'an, and Xiao Wu discover the disguise. 28 29

When the Academy Dean later catches him wearing women's clothing and practicing sword movements, Xiaogang claims he is training a self-created soul skill and demonstrates the Evil-Warding Sword Technique to support the explanation. 39

Star Dou Great Forest

During the Star Dou Great Forest expedition, Xiaogang identifies Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer and correctly deduces that the wielder is the Clear Sky Douluo. He escorts Tang San, Xiao Wu, and the Academy Dean away from the battle between Tang Hao and the forest's soul-beast kings. 37 38

Notable Quotes

“There are no trash martial souls, only trash soul masters!”
15

“I, Yu Xiaogang, am no trash!”
25