Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Yu Xiaogang (玉小刚)
Alias(es)	Grandmaster; Gangzi
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Notting Soul Master Academy; later Shrek Academy
Occupation/Role	Spirit master theory researcher and teacher
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background / History

Yu Xiaogang built his reputation around his Ten Core Competitiveness Theories of Martial Souls, claiming to have researched martial soul theory for decades. Despite his theoretical standing, he possesses innate half-level soul power and remained stuck at level 29 for more than a decade. His martial soul, Luo Sanpao, is a mutation of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon that he considers a source of personal humiliation. 1 6 10

At Notting Academy, Xiaogang attempted to direct Lin Hui’s Iron Ball Martial Soul toward an offensive development path and offered to accept him as a disciple. Lin Hui rejected both the advice and the offer, instead arguing that martial souls should be developed according to individual characteristics and proposing a seventh spirit-master category. Xiaogang reacted with rage, broke his teaching pointer, and left the classroom after threatening that Lin Hui would “go astray.” 1 2

He subsequently took Tang San to the Soul Hunting Forest and selected a roughly four-hundred-year Datura Snake as Tang San’s first soul ring, intending to establish Tang San as proof of his theories. Xiaogang repeatedly presented Tang San’s progress as evidence of his own expertise. 2 8 10 12

Lin Hui’s unexpected acquisition of a first soul ring frustrated Xiaogang’s plans to publicly compare Tang San’s progress with his rival. Xiaogang became increasingly curious about Lin Hui’s martial soul and whether its unusual breakthrough method could solve the limitations of his own cultivation. 9 10

During the Academy Grand Competition, Xiaogang expected Tang San to defeat Lin Hui and vindicate his teachings. Instead, Lin Hui’s Blue Silver Emperor suppressed Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass completely, leaving Tang San’s first soul skill ineffective. Tang San was severely defeated and ultimately placed fourth, while Xiaogang endured ridicule from teachers and students, vomited blood from anger, and suffered a public emotional breakdown. 15 16 18 19

After three years, Xiaogang encouraged Tang San to attend Shrek Academy and seek revenge against Lin Hui. He later arrived at Shrek himself, where he resumed presenting himself as an authority and claimed credit for Tang San’s breakthrough to level 30. 25 31

Appearance

Yu Xiaogang is a short, middle-aged man whose physical weakness and stalled cultivation contrast with the authority he attempts to project.

• Possesses white hair after years of struggling alone with his cultivation. 6
• Has a short frame. 2
• His martial soul, Luo Sanpao, is described as resembling neither a pig nor a dog. 10

Personality

Xiaogang is proud, insecure, and highly dependent on recognition as a theorist. He treats disagreement with his teachings as a personal attack, particularly when challenged by Lin Hui in front of students and colleagues. 1 2

He seeks validation through Tang San’s accomplishments, regarding his disciple as the means to restore his reputation and prove that he was never wrong. Even after Tang San’s defeat exposes gaps in his knowledge, Xiaogang reassures him with explanations he does not fully understand in order to preserve their master-disciple bond. 8 19

His resentment toward Lin Hui develops into open hostility. He takes pleasure in Lin Hui’s apparent inability to absorb soul rings, encourages Tang San to defeat him, and later anticipates using Shrek Academy’s connections against him. 5 6 13 25

Abilities & Skills

Martial Soul Theory

Yu Xiaogang is known as the “Grandmaster” for his research into martial souls and his Ten Core Competitiveness Theories of Martial Souls. 1 8

• Advocates established classifications of Power Attack, Agility Attack, Control, Defense, Support, and Food-type spirit masters. 2
• Selected Tang San’s first soul ring based on his stated theory that a first soul ring’s maximum age is 423 years. 8
• Has limited practical experience and cannot explain why Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass was suppressed by Lin Hui’s Blue Silver Emperor. 19
• His claimed fixed soul-ring age limits are contradicted by Tang Hao, who notes that a master’s physical condition and martial soul affect ring tolerance. 8

Luo Sanpao

Xiaogang’s martial soul is Luo Sanpao, a mutation of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. 8 10

• Luo Sanpao was unable to contend with a roughly four-hundred-year Datura Snake. 8
• After being bitten by the snake, it returned to Xiaogang’s body as a beam of purple light. 8
• Xiaogang’s cultivation limitation is tied to his martial soul; he has remained at level 29 for over a decade. 6 10

Relationships

• Tang San — Disciple and Xiaogang’s principal source of validation; Xiaogang personally guides his soul-ring choices and urges him to defeat Lin Hui. 2 8 13 19 31
• Lin Hui — Former prospective disciple turned rival; Lin Hui’s challenges to Xiaogang’s theories and later victories over Tang San repeatedly humiliate him. 1 2 15 16 25
• Li Chun — Lin Hui’s homeroom teacher; Li Chun seeks Xiaogang’s advice over Lin Hui’s soul-ring problem but withholds important details due to doubts about Xiaogang’s intentions. 5 6
• Flender — Associated with Xiaogang at Shrek Academy; Xiaogang believes Flender would be willing to act against Lin Hui on his behalf. 25 31
• Tang Hao — Xiaogang guides Tang San’s development without knowing that Tang Hao considers the Datura Snake ring choice overly conservative for Tang San’s physique. 8

Story Role / Major Arcs

Notting Academy Theory Dispute

Xiaogang’s classroom confrontation with Lin Hui establishes the conflict between rigid martial soul doctrine and individualized development. His inability to rebut Lin Hui sparks his lasting resentment. 1 2

Tang San’s First Soul Ring

He leads Tang San to obtain a Datura Snake soul ring and frames the result as a triumph of his theory, while overlooking Tang San’s greater physical capacity and reliance on hidden weapons. 8

Academy Grand Competition

Xiaogang expects Tang San’s victory to restore his standing. Lin Hui’s overwhelming defeat of Tang San instead discredits Xiaogang publicly and leaves him humiliated before the academy. 10 15 16 18 19

Shrek Academy

After leaving Notting Academy amid widespread rejection, Xiaogang resumes his teaching role at Shrek Academy, again tying his credibility to Tang San’s progress and anticipated revenge against Lin Hui. 25 31

Trivia

• Xiaogang initially wanted Lin Hui as a second disciple with innate full soul power, hoping that either Lin Hui or Tang San would eventually prove his theories correct. 1
• He refers to Tang San as his “masterpiece” and views the disciple’s victories as personal vindication. 8
• He is repeatedly described as being unable to accept fault, internally insisting that “it is this world that has always been wrong.” 6