Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Yu Xiaogang (玉小刚)
Alias(es)	Grandmaster; Gangzi
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect
Occupation/Role	Spirit Master; self-styled spirit-theory scholar and public lecturer
Status	Alive; active in Spirit City as of Chapter 26
First Appearance	Chapter 4

Background

Yu Xiaogang arrives in Spirit City after traveling from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect, introducing himself to a crowd as a returning sect spirit master. He distributes a draft treatise on the theoretical limits of spirit rings and quickly adopts the manner of a humble but authoritative “Grandmaster.” 4

Privately, Xiaogang considers Spirit City the place where he will finally reveal his brilliance. His thoughts reveal that he intends to use his noble background, knowledge, and perceived world-weariness to win Bibi Dong’s favor and establish himself within Spirit Hall. 4 5

His first attempt to approach Bibi Dong ends disastrously. Misreading her hostility as concern, he attempts to “protect” her from Lu Mingchuan and invokes her status to threaten others. Bibi Dong orders him expelled, kicks him repeatedly in the groin, and has Spirit Hall Academy students beat him. Despite this, he remains conscious, maintains that the suffering will strengthen him, and vows revenge. 5 6

Xiaogang later rebuilds an audience in South Market bookstores by explaining elementary spirit-master knowledge and promising future lessons. His public following becomes large enough to alarm Bibi Dong, who attacks him while disguised amid the crowd and has him carried away under the pretense of an old illness. 10 12

After continuing to seek Bibi Dong out, Xiaogang becomes the target of another scheme: Cuihua gives him Bewildering Passion after substituting it for Bibi Dong’s intended laxative, Galloping Torrent. Cuihua carries him away; Xiaogang is left emotionally shaken afterward but eventually escapes and resumes his attempts to approach Bibi Dong. 18 19 22

Appearance

Yu Xiaogang is portrayed as disheveled and deliberately styled to appear experienced and world-weary.

• Short, stubby buzz cut. 4
• Unshaven stubble, which he retains even after changing into cleaner clothing. 4 10
• Initially arrives sweaty, dirty, and overloaded with bags. 4
• Covers bruises from his beating with face cream before returning to the bookstore. 10
• After repeated injuries, appears heavily bandaged with bamboo splints, a crutch, and protective iron underpants. 17
• Following Cuihua’s treatment, is described as gaunt and carries the iron underpants after they have been flattened into a disc. 22

Personality

Xiaogang is highly self-important and intensely concerned with being recognized as a great master. He repeatedly performs calm authority in public, presenting ordinary knowledge as rare insight and treating praise for his theories as proof of his importance. 4 10 17

His inner thoughts contrast with this cultivated image. He regards Bibi Dong as easy to deceive, assumes her hostility is affection or concern, and believes gaining her favor would grant him access to Spirit Hall’s knowledge and influence. 4 5 12 22

He is also notably resilient and refuses to acknowledge humiliation as defeat. Even while being beaten and incapacitated, he frames his suffering as nourishment for future growth and continues planning revenge or advancement. 6

Abilities & Skills

Spirit-Theory Knowledge

Xiaogang presents himself as an expert on spirits and spirit rings, using theoretical discussion to attract followers.

• Distributes a draft treatise titled around the theoretical limits of spirit rings. 4
• Publicly corrects book selections and explains basic spirit-master knowledge at the South City Bookstore. 10
• Promises to arrange lessons for followers who seek his instruction. 12
• His statement that “there are no useless spirits, only useless spirit masters” inspires Cuihua’s admiration. 17
• His knowledge is characterized by Bibi Dong as largely consisting of primary-academy basics, despite his grand presentation. 11

Exceptional Physical Endurance

Xiaogang survives punishment that leaves ordinary attackers exhausted.

• Endures repeated groin kicks and a sustained beating by Spirit Hall Academy students while remaining conscious. 6
• Is considered unusually difficult to incapacitate; Lu Mingchuan compares his durability favorably against attacks by much weaker opponents. 6
• Claims that his constitution is far stronger than average after recovering from his initial beating. 10
• His endurance does not prevent pain or injury; he is repeatedly knocked unconscious or rendered unable to move. 6 12 25

Audible Inner Thoughts

Xiaogang’s thoughts can be heard by Lu Mingchuan and Bibi Dong when he is nearby; Tang Yuehua later also reacts to them.

• His first audible thoughts reveal his ambition upon reaching Spirit City. 4
• The phenomenon exposes his contemptuous, manipulative assumptions about Bibi Dong. 4
• His thoughts repeatedly undermine his public “Grandmaster” persona. 5 12 23

Equipment / Items

• Spirit-ring theory treatise — A draft he distributes to promote his expertise. 4
• Ancient book — Carried while posing as an enlightened master outside Spirit Hall. 17
• Iron underpants — Protective garment worn after Bibi Dong’s repeated groin attacks. 17
• Crutch and bamboo splints — Used during his bandaged return to Spirit Hall. 17

Relationships

• Bibi Dong — Xiaogang seeks her favor and imagines himself becoming her guide, while she is openly disgusted by his arrogance and repeatedly has him punished. 4 5 17 22
• Lu Mingchuan — Lu repeatedly engineers Xiaogang’s humiliation. Xiaogang fails to recognize Lu’s disguise and accepts him as a “cousin” despite their different surnames. 22 23
• Cuihua — A devoted admirer of Xiaogang’s theories who is assigned by Bibi Dong to drug him. She claims affection for him but distinguishes it from her mission. 17 18 19
• Tang Yuehua — Xiaogang recognizes her as Tang Yuehua and privately resents the fame and power associated with her brother. She responds to his disrespect by kicking him. 22
• Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect Master — Xiaogang’s father; Xiaogang regrets losing the protection and status he enjoyed within the sect. 21 22
• Tenfold Brother — A Spirit Hall guard manipulated by Lu Mingchuan into targeting Xiaogang as retaliation against Lu’s supposed “cousin.” 26

Story Role / Major Arcs

Arrival in Spirit City

Xiaogang enters Spirit City as a traveling Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect spirit master, promotes his treatise, and attempts to establish contact with Bibi Dong. His arrogance and mistaken assumptions immediately make him a target for Bibi Dong and Lu Mingchuan. 4 5

Expulsion and Public Lecturing

After being beaten and expelled, he recovers and rebuilds his reputation through bookstore lectures in the South Market. His growing audience reinforces his belief that Bibi Dong will eventually seek him out. 6 10 12

Cuihua Incident

Xiaogang returns to Spirit Hall in protective gear and encounters Cuihua, whose admiration for his theories wins his trust. He drinks the medicine she offers, only to be carried away after she replaces Bibi Dong’s intended laxative with Bewildering Passion. 17 18

“Cousin” Deception

After escaping Cuihua, Xiaogang encounters Lu Mingchuan in the guise of a Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect relative. He accepts Lu as his cousin, relies on him for protection, and remains unaware that Lu is using him as a prop while confronting Spirit Hall. 22 23

Tenfold Brother’s Retaliation

Lu Mingchuan’s hostage scheme redirects Tenfold Brother’s anger toward Xiaogang. By Chapter 26, Tenfold Brother locates Xiaogang teaching Spirit Hall guards and orders men to give Lu’s supposed cousin a “Manchu Han Imperial Feast.” 25 26

Notable Quotes

“I am Yu Xiaogang from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect, just returning from my travels.” 4

“Once I latch onto that idiotic Saintess... come on, your fists and kicks are merely nourishment for my growth.” 6

“I, Yu Xiaogang, am destined to become a Grandmaster renowned throughout the world.” 6

Trivia

• Xiaogang claims that he reached thirty years of age before reaching level thirty. 5
• He repeatedly interprets Bibi Dong’s attacks and rejection as signs that she cares about him. 5 6 22
• Despite his claimed connection to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect, Bibi Dong notes that he never displays a spirit ring, spirit power, or the sect’s iconic martial soul in the documented incidents. 26