Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Yu Xiaogang (玉小刚) 34
Alias(es)	Gangzi; Master; Sunflower Ancestor 20 34 129
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Shrek Academy; formerly associated with Spirit City/Spirit Hall through Bibi Dong 20 34
Occupation/Role	Soul Master theorist; Shrek Academy team instructor 20 34
Martial Soul	Luo Sanpao, a Beast Spirit 128
Status	Alive 213
First Appearance	Chapter 5 (mentioned) 5

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Level 29 Soul Master	20	His Martial Soul’s degeneration leaves him unable to advance beyond Level 29, driving him to seek answers in Spirit City. 20
Level 30	64	Bai Yu extracts the Golden Sacred Dragon from Luo Sanpao and forcibly clears his Meridians as part of their transaction. 64
Level 32 Soul Elder	84–85	Absorbs an Ironclad Thunder Dragon Spirit Ring through Bai Yu’s Soul Gathering Seal and breaks through the Level 30 bottleneck. 84 85

Background

Yu Xiaogang’s Martial Soul originally contained the Sacred Dragon Origin, but his talent could not support it, causing the Martial Soul to degenerate. Dragon-type, light-attributed Spirit Rings may once have allowed the origin to awaken again; his second Spirit Ring instead severed that possibility. 19

Unable to progress past Level 29, he left home for Spirit City. There, the then-Holy Maiden Bibi Dong supported him and gave him access to Spirit Hall’s records. He was later expelled from Spirit City, while Bibi Dong was imprisoned to prevent further contact between them. 20

Afterward, Yu Xiaogang published the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul theory. The work earned broad recognition despite its flaws and established his reputation as “Master.” 20

He later travelled with Flender and Liu Erlong. Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong planned to marry, but their unrecognized familial connection stopped the wedding. He fled, while Liu Erlong was left devastated. 20 21

At a Nuoding City academy, he accepted Tang San as his disciple. Bai Yu recounts that Yu Xiaogang pressured Tang San to choose poison-attributed Spirit Rings, damaging the potential of Tang San’s early Blue Silver Grass rings. 21

Personality

Yu Xiaogang is intensely driven by his need to prove that he is not a failure. Even while crippled and despairing, he resolves to survive long enough for the world to recognize his achievements. 53

He is willing to sacrifice relationships, dignity, and personal safety for cultivation progress. When Bai Yu offers treatment in exchange for a deed transferring Liu Erlong, Yu Xiaogang rationalizes that the contract will be meaningless if she refuses to acknowledge it, then signs it to obtain healing and a Cultivation Method. 63 64

His rapid progress through the Sunflower Manual feeds an obsession with strength and recognition. The technique also contributes to increasingly erratic, aggressive behavior and an unstable mental state. 84 99

“What women? What face? As long as it can prove myself, anything can be used as a stepping stone!” 84

Abilities & Skills

Luo Sanpao

Yu Xiaogang’s Beast Spirit is a degraded remnant of the Sacred Dragon Origin. Bai Yu later extracts the Golden Sacred Dragon from it while treating Yu Xiaogang’s damaged Meridians. 19 64

• Releases dense yellow smoke that obscures the battlefield and incapacitates opponents. 131 134
• Uses his second Spirit Skill, “A fart like smoke, hypnotic slumber Luo Sanpao!”, to put targets to sleep. 131
• Retains Luo Sanpao after the extraction and uses it in his Great Soul Arena duel. 131

Sunflower Manual

Bai Yu provides Yu Xiaogang with a Cultivation Method after their transaction. Yu Xiaogang later names it the Sunflower Manual, after his arena alias, Sunflower Ancestor. 64 134

• Grants an innate Extreme Speed trait, allowing movement comparable to an Agility Attack System Soul Master. 132
• Its speed does not diminish while the user has Soul Power remaining. 132
• Greater proficiency further improves speed; at mastery, its movement becomes ghostlike. 132
• Its rapid cultivation effect contributes to Yu Xiaogang’s unstable mental condition. 99

Martial Soul Theory and Instruction

Yu Xiaogang is recognized for his theoretical work and serves as Shrek’s team instructor. 20 34

• Published the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul theory. 20
• Gives tactical explanations concerning Soul Master styles and opposing academy teams. 192 193
• Attempts to direct Tang San’s third Spirit Ring toward a spider-type Spirit Beast for his own experimental purposes; Tang San instead selects the Regenerating Vine. 34

Items

• Soul Gathering Seal — Supplied by Bai Yu for Yu Xiaogang’s third Spirit Ring absorption; it produces an Ironclad Thunder Dragon Spirit Ring. Yu Xiaogang later returns it. 84 85
• Sunflower Manual — The speed-focused Cultivation Method received from Bai Yu after signing the deed involving Liu Erlong. 64 134

Relationships

• Bai Yu — A hostile benefactor and recurring source of humiliation. Bai Yu challenges Yu Xiaogang’s theories, heals his Meridians, gives him the Sunflower Manual, and later assists his Spirit Ring breakthrough. 34 63 64 84 85
• Liu Erlong — Former lover and almost-wife. Their wedding collapsed after their familial connection was revealed; she later overhears Yu Xiaogang’s deal with Bai Yu and cripples him in rage. 21 63 83 84
• Tang San — His disciple from Nuoding City. Tang San grows disillusioned after learning that Yu Xiaogang’s guidance harmed his Spirit Ring path and later becomes outwardly polite but inwardly estranged. 21 26 213
• Flender — His longtime companion and “good brother.” Flender brings him to Shrek Academy, worries over his dueling decision, and supports him by betting on his arena match. 20 34 129 134
• Bibi Dong — Former supporter during her time as Holy Maiden. She gave him access to Spirit Hall records before their separation. 20

Story Role / Major Arcs

Arrival at Shrek Academy

Yu Xiaogang arrives at Shrek as an instructor and immediately clashes with Bai Yu over the academy’s training methods. His attempt to dictate Tang San’s third Spirit Ring choice fails when Tang San openly chooses the Regenerating Vine instead. 33 34

Search for a Cultivation Method

After learning that Cultivation Methods can open Meridians and increase cultivation speed, Yu Xiaogang becomes determined to create or obtain one despite Bai Yu’s warnings that failed attempts can cripple or kill the practitioner. 35 37

His damaged leg Meridians later atrophy, leaving him disabled. He seeks Bai Yu’s help after learning that deep Soul Power and a Cultivation Method can forcibly clear Meridians. 52 63

Transaction and Breakthrough

Yu Xiaogang signs a deed transferring Liu Erlong to Bai Yu in exchange for treatment and a Cultivation Method. Bai Yu clears his Meridians, extracts the Golden Sacred Dragon from Luo Sanpao, and raises him to Level 30. 63 64

Liu Erlong overhears the agreement and later breaks Yu Xiaogang’s limbs, including irreparable damage to his “fifth limb.” Despite this, he pursues strength without hesitation, obtains an Ironclad Thunder Dragon Spirit Ring, and reaches Level 32. 70 72 84 85

Great Soul Arena Duel

Seeking to prove the Sunflower Manual’s value, Yu Xiaogang enters the Great Soul Arena under the alias Sunflower Ancestor. 128 129

He defeats the Level 39 Soul Elder Black Bear through Extreme Speed, yellow smoke, and Luo Sanpao’s hypnotic ability. The crowd responds with laughter and mockery rather than admiration, while Flender wins a fivefold bet on his victory. 131 132 134

Later Instruction

Yu Xiaogang continues serving as a team instructor, analyzing rival academies and directing Shrek’s preparations. By this point, Tang San no longer truly regards him as a teacher, while Yu Xiaogang focuses on his own cultivation rather than risking a return to Spirit City for Tang San’s sake. 192 193 213