Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Name	Yu Xiaogang (玉小刚)
Alias(es)	Grandmaster; Master
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Shrek Academy
Occupation/Role	Teacher; Dean of Shrek Academy
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background / History

Yu Xiaogang serves as a teacher at Shrek Academy and places great importance on his Ten Core Competencies theory of martial souls. When Long Tian publicly identifies flaws in that theory, Yu Xiaogang expels him, claiming Shrek already has enough support-system soul masters in Ning Rongrong and Oscar. He openly states that he will not tolerate challenges to his research. 1

After Long Tian leaves, Yu Xiaogang continues to dismiss him as an arrogant, undisciplined support soul master whose departure will improve Shrek’s training. He argues that an additional support-system student would waste academy resources and slow the team down. 4

When Long Tian returns as a Tianshui Academy student, Yu Xiaogang initially assumes he has come to beg for readmission. Long Tian’s evolved Nine-Colored Divine Dragon martial soul, level-thirty-five cultivation, and ten-thousand-year third soul ring overturn Yu Xiaogang’s assumptions and leave him unable to reconcile the evidence with his own theories. 11 12 13

Rather than accept the contradiction, Yu Xiaogang declares Long Tian’s third soul ring fraudulent and orders the Shrek students to attack him. When Zhao Wuji intervenes, Yu Xiaogang urges that Long Tian be crippled rather than killed so his martial soul evolution and unusual soul ring can be studied. 13 16

After Ling Yuan kills Zhao Wuji and threatens Shrek, Yu Xiaogang kneels to beg for mercy. He attempts to persuade Long Tian to return to Shrek, proposing that the academy use Long Tian’s martial soul alongside his theories, but Long Tian rejects him. 17 18

Tang Hao’s arrival prevents Ling Yuan from killing Yu Xiaogang. Once the immediate danger passes, Yu Xiaogang regains some of his confidence, dismissing Long Tian’s ten-thousand-year third ring as a special case and promising to lead Shrek to victory in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament. 18

Personality

Yu Xiaogang is proud, dogmatic, and highly protective of his reputation as a martial-soul theorist. He reacts to Long Tian’s criticism as a personal insult and treats questioning his work as insubordination rather than legitimate disagreement. 1 13

He is dismissive of people he considers unsuitable for Shrek, particularly support-system soul masters whom he believes are redundant or lack independent combat ability. Even after witnessing Long Tian’s transformation, he continues to frame the Rainbow Dragon’s abilities as an exception rather than reconsider his broader conclusions. 4 18 22

When confronted by Ling Yuan’s overwhelming power, Yu Xiaogang becomes fearful and submissive, begging for his own life and Zhao Wuji’s. Once Tang Hao intervenes, however, he quickly returns to defending his theories and authority. 17 18

Skills & Knowledge

Martial Soul Theory

Yu Xiaogang teaches Shrek Academy through his Ten Core Competencies theory and presents himself as an authority on soul-ring limits, cultivation, tactics, and team coordination.

• Claims that a level-thirty Soul Master cannot safely absorb a ten-thousand-year third soul ring. 13
• Trains the Shrek students in cultivation, coordination, and tactics after their defeat by Tianshui Academy. 22
• Attributes Shui Bing’er’s overwhelming strength largely to Long Tian’s Ultimate Ice support. 22
• Maintains that support-system Soul Masters are vulnerable when separated from teammates. 22

Relationships

• Long Tian — Former student expelled for challenging Yu Xiaogang’s theory; later publicly exposes the contradictions in Yu Xiaogang’s teachings. Yu Xiaogang subsequently tries to recruit him back to Shrek. 1 13 17 18
• Tang San — Student and staunch supporter of Yu Xiaogang’s teachings; initially defends his teacher against Long Tian and follows his orders during the Tianshui confrontation. 1 13
• Zhao Wuji — Fellow Shrek teacher whom Yu Xiaogang urges to act against Long Tian; Yu Xiaogang later pleads with Ling Yuan to spare him. 15 17
• Ling Yuan — A Titled Douluo and Long Tian’s master who openly derides Yu Xiaogang’s theories and nearly kills him after Shrek’s actions against her disciple. 3 17 18
• Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing — Shrek students who disagree with Long Tian’s expulsion and later defend him when Zhao Wuji seeks to execute him. 4 15
• Shrek Seven Monsters — Yu Xiaogang’s students, whom he directs to oppose Long Tian and later encourages following their defeat. 12 13 22

Story Role / Major Arcs

Long Tian’s Expulsion

Yu Xiaogang expels Long Tian from Shrek Academy after Long Tian challenges the Ten Core Competencies theory. He cites Long Tian’s support-system role and Shrek’s existing support members as justification. 1

Tianshui Academy Challenge

When Tianshui Academy challenges Shrek, Yu Xiaogang treats Long Tian with contempt and assumes he seeks reconciliation. Long Tian’s evolved martial soul and unprecedented third soul ring instead force Yu Xiaogang to face evidence his theory cannot explain. 11 12 13

Shrek–Ling Yuan Confrontation

Yu Xiaogang orders Long Tian attacked, advocates preserving him as research material, then kneels before Ling Yuan after Zhao Wuji is killed. He offers Shrek’s resources and records in exchange for his life. 13 16 17 18

Shrek’s Recovery

Following Shrek’s defeat, Yu Xiaogang restores the team’s morale by emphasizing further cultivation and tactical preparation. He continues to minimize Long Tian’s independent combat capability and frames defeating him as a matter of countering his support abilities. 22

Notable Quotes

“My theory is absolutely correct! I will not tolerate your questioning!” 1

“There has never been such a precedent in the spirit master world. This must be an illusion!” 13

“A ten-thousand-year third soul ring is merely a special case.” 18