Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Yu Xiaogang (玉小刚)
Alias(es)	Grandmaster; Gangzi
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect (formerly; expelled); Nuoding Academy; Shrek Academy; formerly Spirit Hall 14 38 58
Occupation/Role	Self-proclaimed theoretical grandmaster; Spirit Master theory researcher; Tang San's teacher 13 18
Status	Alive; left arm severed and not expected to be fully recoverable 131 132
First Appearance	Chapter 6

Background / History

Yu Xiaogang was born the son of Yu Yuanzhen, the Sect Master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect. His Martial Soul mutated into Luo Sanpao, and his innate soul power was only half a level, leaving him unable to fulfill the expectations attached to his birth. He sought recognition through Spirit Master theory, joining Spirit Hall and developing the Ten Core Competencies of Spirit Masters, though the work gained little recognition and remained controversial. He later left Spirit City, became close with Flender and Liu Erlong, and discovered that Liu Erlong was his cousin just as they were approaching a relationship. 14 18

After Lin Chen warned him of impending misfortune, Yu Xiaogang dismissed the warning as fraudulent fortune-telling. He was soon ambushed by the wanted Spirit King Wang Hu, robbed, and severely beaten; one arm was reattached but left stiff and only partially functional. The incident made him fearful of further bad luck and more receptive to Lin Chen's claims. 6 7 12

At Nuoding Academy, Yu Xiaogang noticed Tang San's innate full soul power despite possessing Blue Silver Grass. Concluding that Tang San had twin Martial Souls, he sought to recruit him as a disciple, intending both to test his theories on Tang San's first Martial Soul and to establish his own reputation through Tang San's future achievements. 12 13

He later moved to Shrek Academy, where Flender asked him to guide its students. Following conflict with Yu Yuanzhen over Xiao Wu's identity as a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form, Yu Xiaogang prioritized retaining Tang San as a disciple over the sect's interests. Yu Yuanzhen expelled him from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect. 38 57 58

After Tang Hao fell from the Title Douluo realm, Yu Xiaogang privately contacted Bibi Dong and urged her to have Tang Hao killed. He believed Tang Hao's death would make Tang San dependent on him and allow Yu Xiaogang to claim the credit for Tang San's future success. 132

Appearance

Yu Xiaogang is a middle-aged man who appears to be in his fifties. He has a worn, decadent bearing that contrasts with the habitual arrogance visible between his brows. 12

• Commonly stands with one hand behind his back in an affectedly dignified pose. 13 28
• His arm injured by Wang Hu was reattached but remained stiff and far less flexible than before. 12
• Tang Hao later severed Yu Xiaogang's left arm at the shoulder. 131
• Following the later injury, he is described with missing front teeth and blood at the corner of his mouth. 135

Personality

Yu Xiaogang is highly vain about his identity as a theoretical “Grandmaster.” He repeatedly emphasizes his research, title, lineage, and supposed authority, and reacts with anger when Lin Chen or Xiao Wu questions his competence. 13 28 55

His ambitions are closely tied to Tang San. He recognizes Tang San primarily as a path to proving his theories and gaining fame, initially viewing Tang San's Blue Silver Grass as a low-risk subject for experimentation because of the boy's second Martial Soul. 12

He can display genuine tenderness toward Tang San, particularly when Tang San is emotionally devastated, but he also views that dependence as an opportunity to replace Tang Hao as Tang San's primary father figure. 79 132

Abilities & Skills

Luo Sanpao

Yu Xiaogang's mutated Martial Soul is Luo Sanpao. Its weakness and his low innate soul power shaped much of Yu Xiaogang's insecurity and pursuit of theoretical recognition. 14 58

• Luo Sanpao can lead Yu Xiaogang and Tang San through a Spirit Beast Forest and warn of nearby threats. 18
• It was mauled by a hyena and forcibly retracted by Yu Xiaogang during their Spirit Beast Forest expedition. 18
• Yu Xiaogang's first soul skill is Fart Like Thunder, which was ineffective against a pack of century-level hyenas. 18
• He possesses a second soul skill, but its effects are not documented in the provided material. 18

Spirit Master Theory

Yu Xiaogang presents himself as the “number one theoretical master” of the Spirit Master world and takes particular pride in his Ten Core Competencies of Spirit Masters. 6 18 55

• Can identify Spirit Beasts, describe their traits, and estimate their age in detail. 18
• Advises Tang San that a first Spirit Ring should approach a limit of 423 years. 18
• His theories are disputed; Tang Hao dismisses his suggestion of a ten-year Lone Bamboo for Blue Silver Grass as nonsense. 18
• Lin Chen exposes a flaw in Yu Xiaogang's claim that Lin Chen's fortune-reading ability proved the existence of a second Martial Soul. 28

Instruction and Training

Yu Xiaogang serves as Tang San's teacher and later assumes a role in directing training at Shrek Academy. 13 38 82

• Took Tang San into the Spirit Beast Forest to seek his first Spirit Ring. 18
• Designed physical conditioning based on carrying stones and running with weighted baskets. 43
• Regained authority over Tang San's training after Tang Hao left Shrek Academy. 82
• Provides emotional reassurance to Tang San during moments of humiliation and isolation. 79

Poisons and Hidden Weapons

Yu Xiaogang lacks high combat strength and seeks to compensate through Tang San's poisons and hidden weapons. 82 83

• Received poisons from Tang San intended for self-defense. 83
• Became interested in poisons capable of threatening Soul Kings and Soul Emperors. 82
• Agreed to obtain materials for more powerful hidden weapons, expecting they could let him kill Spirit Saints or Spirit Douluos. 83
• Considered renewing contact with Bibi Dong to secure resources and resolve Tang San's twin-Martial-Soul conflict. 83

Equipment / Items

• Belt — stolen by Wang Hu during the alley ambush. 7
• Poisons from Tang San — retained for personal protection against stronger Spirit Masters. 83
• Materials list for hidden weapons — supplied by Tang San; Yu Xiaogang intended to source the listed materials through his connections. 83
• Letter to Bibi Dong — used to request materials and later to seek Tang Hao's assassination. 84 132

Relationships

• Tang San — disciple. Yu Xiaogang sees Tang San's twin Martial Souls as the foundation of his own future prestige, while Tang San repeatedly defends and trusts him. 12 13 79
• Lin Chen — adversarial acquaintance. Lin Chen repeatedly curses, humiliates, and undermines Yu Xiaogang's claims to theoretical authority. 12 28 29
• Yu Yuanzhen — father and Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect Master. Their relationship is bitter; Yu Yuanzhen ultimately expels Yu Xiaogang from the sect. 57 58
• Tang Hao — Tang San's father and later a hated rival. Tang Hao physically assaults Yu Xiaogang several times, eventually severing his left arm; Yu Xiaogang later asks Bibi Dong to arrange Tang Hao's death. 51 131 132
• Bibi Dong — former girlfriend and Spirit Hall contact. Yu Xiaogang writes to her for resources and attempts to use her influence against Tang Hao. 84 116 132
• Flender — old friend and Shrek Academy associate. Flender invites Yu Xiaogang to guide Shrek students, though their friendship is strained by Yu Xiaogang's renewed contact with Bibi Dong. 38 84
• Liu Erlong — former romantic partner; Yu Xiaogang learned she was his cousin before their relationship could continue. 14
• Xiao Wu — Tang San's companion and frequent critic. Her direct attacks on Yu Xiaogang's failures provoke him into a rage. 55
• Luo Sanpao — his mutated Martial Soul, treated by Yu Xiaogang as a companion in Spirit Beast Forest expeditions. 18

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Disaster in Nuoding City — Rejects Lin Chen's warning, then suffers an ambush, robbery, and lasting arm injury at Wang Hu's hands. 6 7 12
• Tang San's recruitment — Identifies Tang San as a potential twin-Martial-Soul genius and takes him as a disciple. 12 13
• First Spirit Ring expedition — Leads Tang San into the Spirit Beast Forest, where a hyena pack overwhelms Luo Sanpao and severely injures Yu Xiaogang. 18
• Conflict with Lin Chen — Attempts to expose Lin Chen's supposed second Martial Soul, only to be publicly discredited and physically overpowered. 28 29
• Shrek Academy period — Joins Flender's group, helps oversee student training, and becomes increasingly focused on controlling Tang San's development. 38 79 82
• Break with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect — Defies Yu Yuanzhen over Xiao Wu, placing Tang San above the sect's opportunity to acquire a Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring; he is expelled. 57 58
• Plot against Tang Hao — After Tang Hao's cultivation falls, Yu Xiaogang contacts Bibi Dong to arrange his assassination. 132
• Loss of his left arm — Tang Hao severs Yu Xiaogang's left arm during a confrontation, deepening Yu Xiaogang's hatred toward him. 131

Notable Quotes

“Although I am not a teacher at Nuoding Academy, I have made some small achievements in the field of spirit master theory, so everyone respectfully calls me Grandmaster.” 13

“I am the number one Theory Master in the Spirit Master world! I am the son of Yu Yuanzhen, the Sect Master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects!” 55

“No matter what you become or what you've been through, I will always be your teacher. I will never despise you.” 79

Trivia

• Yu Xiaogang initially describes himself as a passerby at Nuoding Academy who sponges off the institution. 12
• His early encounter with Wang Hu fulfills Lin Chen's warning to watch both his wallet and surroundings. 6 7
• Lin Chen identifies Yu Xiaogang as a “jinx” whose misfortune affects people around him, causing Tang San and Xiao Wu to become wary of him. 14
• Yu Xiaogang's first soul skill, Fart Like Thunder, fails to stop the hyena pack in the Spirit Beast Forest. 18