Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Yu Xiaogang (玉小刚)
Alias(es)	Grandmaster; Master
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Notting Academy; Shrek Academy
Occupation/Role	Martial Soul researcher; mentor and teacher
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 9

Background / History

Yu Xiaogang initially resides at Notting Academy as a friend of Principal Fuqi and describes himself as a guest looking for food and lodging. He distinguishes the title “Master” from an ordinary teacher before accepting Tang San as his disciple. 9 11

His innate soul power is publicly revealed as only level 0.5, provoking laughter from academy staff and deeply humiliating him. Tang San responds by kneeling and swearing to seek justice for his teacher, cementing their master-disciple bond. 11

While helping Tang San acquire his first soul ring, Yu Xiaogang is poisoned by a four-hundred-year Datura Snake and has to be rescued from the Soul Hunting Forest by Tang San. He openly credits Tang San for killing the soul beast and takes pride in his disciple’s success. 16

During the escalating conflict between Tang San and Jiang Naruto, Yu Xiaogang consistently defends Tang San—including attempting to shift blame for Tang San’s hidden crossbow attack onto Naruto. He refuses Naruto’s challenge to a duel, despite Naruto pointing out their substantial difference in soul power. 20

When Naruto later attacks Notting Academy, Yu Xiaogang throws himself in the attacker’s path to protect Tang San and is violently struck aside. After Tang Hao rescues the injured Tang San, Yu Xiaogang takes Tang San and Xiao Wu into hiding before bringing them to Shrek Academy. 36 37 54

At Shrek, Yu Xiaogang continues to guide Tang San and becomes involved in the academy’s move to Tiandou City. He supports Qin Ming’s invitation to Tiandou Academy because Shrek’s students need a Mimicry Cultivation Ground to keep pace with their peers. 118

Xue Qinghe’s public praise and invitations to speak at seminars give Yu Xiaogang the recognition he has long sought. His confidence is later shaken when Professor Claude publicly challenges his martial soul theories, culminating in an emotional outburst that damages the auditorium. Xue Qinghe subsequently defends and consoles him, restoring some of his composure. 144 145 150 166 167 170

Appearance

Yu Xiaogang is a gaunt, weary-looking man whose appearance often reflects his long hours of research and stress. 54 150

• Buzz cut and scruffy beard. 166
• Thin wrists and a generally frail build. 54
• Frequently has dark circles beneath his eyes from overwork. 54 150
• Often stands with his hands tucked into his sleeves. 118 131

Personality

Yu Xiaogang is highly sensitive to humiliation and intensely values recognition of his scholarship. His low innate soul power and stalled cultivation remain a source of insecurity, particularly when Naruto’s rapid progress challenges his beliefs about talent and effort. 11 30

He is deeply devoted to Tang San. Yu Xiaogang worries over Tang San’s injuries, tries to protect him from danger, and repeatedly supports the boy’s confidence after defeat. His willingness to place himself between Tang San and an attacker demonstrates that this protectiveness is not merely verbal. 21 32 36 37

His confidence in his own research can become pride and defensiveness. He dismisses Naruto’s self-created soul skills as useless, insists on broad martial soul classifications, and reacts angrily when his theories are challenged in public. 21 166 167

Abilities & Skills

Martial Soul Research

Yu Xiaogang is known for researching martial souls and publishing the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul. Bibi Dong later reveals that she compelled him to publish the work. 166

• Advocates classifying martial souls as Tool Martial Souls or Beast Martial Souls. 166
• Studies self-created soul skills and identifies Naruto’s cloning, transformation, and substitution techniques as such skills. 21
• Explains the potential of Tang San’s twin martial souls, including the ability to attach soul rings to both spirits. 33
• His classifications and his claimed 423-year first-ring limit are publicly challenged by Professor Claude and the Old Librarian. 166 167

Teaching and Mentorship

Yu Xiaogang designs cultivation plans and provides Tang San with tactical and theoretical guidance.

• Recognizes the value of self-created soul skills, though he initially underestimates Naruto’s techniques. 21
• Advises Tang San against excessively increasing his training volume before his body is fully developed. 33
• Encourages Tang San after his loss to Naruto and reveals information about Tang San’s twin martial souls to restore his resolve. 32 33
• Supports Shrek Academy’s move toward Tiandou City so its students can access better cultivation resources. 118

Soul Master Combat Ability

Yu Xiaogang is a level 29 Soul Grandmaster, but his practical combat ability is limited compared with stronger soul masters. 20 158

• Used a soul skill to weaken a four-hundred-year Datura Snake. 16
• Was poisoned and incapacitated during the hunt, requiring Tang San to kill the beast and bring him out of the forest. 16
• Refuses direct challenges from Naruto, fearing both defeat and the exposure of his martial soul’s weak attack method. 20 142

Relationships

• Tang San — His disciple; Yu Xiaogang is fiercely protective of him and takes great pride in his accomplishments. 11 16 21 36
• Flender — Old friend and fellow member of the Golden Iron Triangle; Flender gives Yu Xiaogang and his students refuge at Shrek Academy. 54 118
• Liu Erlong — A woman who still cares deeply for him; their relationship is strained by Yu Xiaogang’s fixation on his research. 150
• Bibi Dong — Formerly close to Yu Xiaogang and still attached to the memory of his scholarly talent; they once frequented the Martial Soul Hall Library together. 12 93 166
• Xue Qinghe — A powerful patron who praises Yu Xiaogang’s work, invites him to present at seminars, and publicly restores his dignity after his academic humiliation. 144 145 150 170
• Yu Tianheng — His nephew, who addresses him as “Uncle.” 138
• Ning Fengzhi — Supports Yu Xiaogang against Spirit Hall’s recruitment efforts and publicly elevates his reputation. 158
• Principal Fuqi — An old acquaintance at Notting Academy; their friendship is repeatedly strained by Yu Xiaogang’s defense of Tang San and his pride. 9 20 30

Story Role / Major Arcs

Notting Academy and Tang San’s Apprenticeship

Yu Xiaogang becomes Tang San’s master, suffers public humiliation over his innate soul power, and finds emotional validation in Tang San’s unwavering loyalty. 9 11

Soul Hunting Forest and Naruto Rivalry

He accompanies Tang San on the hunt for his first soul ring, survives the Datura Snake incident, and becomes increasingly involved in Tang San’s rivalry with Naruto. 16 20 30 33

Attack on Notting Academy

Yu Xiaogang attempts to shield Tang San during Naruto’s attack, then flees Notting City with Tang San and Xiao Wu after Tang Hao disappears. 36 37 54

Shrek Academy and Tiandou City

At Shrek Academy, he helps direct Tang San’s development, argues for better cultivation resources, reunites with Liu Erlong, and gains public recognition through Xue Qinghe’s support. 118 144 150

Spirit Master Seminar

Yu Xiaogang presents his martial soul theories at a Tiandou seminar, where Professor Claude and the Old Librarian dismantle key parts of his research. His public breakdown escalates into a destructive outburst, after which Xue Qinghe defends him before the assembled factions. 165 170

Notable Quotes

“Knowledge is my qualification.” 158

“I, Yu Xiaogang, would rather die to prove my resolve than ever join Spirit Hall!” 158

“A teacher for a day is a father for life!” — Tang San, pledging himself to Yu Xiaogang. 11

Trivia

• Yu Xiaogang insists that “Master” and “teacher” are fundamentally different titles. 9
• His level 0.5 innate soul power becomes the subject of public ridicule at Notting Academy. 11
• Bibi Dong states that she was the one who forced him to publish the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul. 166