Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Yu Xiaogang (玉小刚)
Alias(es)	Grandmaster; Honorary Elder of Spirit Hall
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy; Shrek Academy; Spirit Hall (Honorary Elder)
Occupation/Role	Soul master theorist and mentor; Tang San's teacher
Status	Confined in an underground space for one year, arranged by Shi An 99
First Appearance	Chapter 6

Background / History

Yu Xiaogang was present at Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy when Old Jack and Tang San arrived. He rebuked the gatekeeper for mistreating them, examined Tang San's Martial Soul certificate, and immediately became intent on accepting Tang San as a disciple after recognizing his twin martial souls 6 7.

Before formally taking Tang San as his disciple, Yu Xiaogang became the target of Shi An's earth-manipulation prank. Shi An created a protrusion beneath him, leaving Yu Xiaogang injured and humiliated outside the academy gates 6 7. Their hostility continued throughout the Nuoding period.

Yu Xiaogang advocated for Tang San after Tang San was injured during the academy opening ceremony, securing medical compensation and free meals before offering him discipleship 8. When Tang San was beaten during the back-mountain conflict, Yu Xiaogang confronted Director Bai and demanded that the noble students be expelled. The academy instead accepted compensation from the students' families; Yu Xiaogang apologized to Tang San and then took him to seek his first soul ring 10 11.

He kept Tang San at Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy for six years despite Tang San being able to graduate earlier, then directed him toward Shrek Academy 14.

In Soto City, Yu Xiaogang attempted to force his way into the local Martial Soul Hall to secure Flender's release. The guards initially mocked and rejected him, but he produced an Elder's token, forcing them to acknowledge his authority and admit the group 27 28.

At Shrek Academy, Yu Xiaogang imposed endurance training involving runs while carrying heavy stones. When Flender revealed that the same training plan had been linked to lasting damage to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy students, Yu Xiaogang's methods were publicly discredited 50. He later left Shrek after declaring its remaining students unqualified to be his disciples 54.

During the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament in Spirit City, Shi An used earth control to force Yu Xiaogang out of the city. Yu Xiaogang was subsequently trapped in a prepared underground enclosure containing food, water, oxygen, filth, and no apparent escape, where Shi An intended to leave him for one year 98 99.

Appearance

Yu Xiaogang is initially described as presentable but carrying himself with conspicuous self-importance. In Spirit City, he is recognized by his crew cut, expressionless face, and large stomach 6 98.

• Often stands with his hands clasped behind his back 6 8 11.
• Has a notably stiff or deadpan expression 6 28 98.
• Walks with a limp following Shi An's prank at Nuoding Academy 8.
• Carries a storage soul tool at his waist 7.

Personality

Yu Xiaogang is highly status-conscious and repeatedly presents himself as the “Grandmaster.” He expects deference from gatekeepers, guards, and academy personnel, becoming visibly embarrassed or angry when his standing is questioned 6 27 28.

He is deeply invested in Tang San as both a disciple and proof of his own theories. His determination to guide Tang San is tied to his desire to demonstrate his worth, gain recognition, and settle old grievances against those who dismissed him 7 8 11.

Despite his pride, Yu Xiaogang shows genuine protectiveness toward Tang San. He intervenes after Tang San is injured, argues against the mistreatment of work-study students, and personally plans Tang San's first soul-ring acquisition 8 10 11.

His conduct in Spirit City reveals a contrasting fearfulness. Though he invokes his honorary elder status to command others, he panics when forcibly led out of the city and appeals desperately for help 98 99.

Abilities & Skills

Soul Master Cultivation

Yu Xiaogang is a level 29 Soul Grandmaster by the time of the Spirit City tournament 98.

• His martial soul is identified as a Pig Spirit 54.
• He relies primarily on theoretical knowledge and institutional status rather than demonstrated combat feats.
• His published theories are criticized by Shi An as superfluous, while his endurance-training plan is connected to damage to students' cultivation foundations 6 50.

Soul Master Theory and Mentorship

Yu Xiaogang studies martial souls and soul-ring combinations and acts as Tang San's mentor.

• Recognized Tang San's twin martial souls from his Martial Soul certificate 6 7.
• Proposed several soul rings for Tang San before taking him to Soul Hunting Forest 11.
• Trained Shrek students through endurance exercises intended to build stamina and willpower 49 50.
• His training approach was later exposed as identical to a harmful plan blamed for a Heaven Dou Imperial Academy mentor's downfall 50.

Elder's Token

Yu Xiaogang possesses an Elder's token recognized by Martial Soul Hall.

• Used it to compel Soto City Martial Soul Hall guards to admit him and release Flender 28.
• Used the token in Spirit City while demanding that guards prevent him from leaving, though his involuntary movement caused him to kick away the guard who approached 98.

Equipment / Items

• Elder's token — Establishes his authority as an Honorary Elder of Spirit Hall 28.
• Storage soul tool — Kept at his waist; used to retrieve a white radish during his injury at Nuoding Academy 7.

Relationships

• Tang San — Disciple. Yu Xiaogang recognizes Tang San's twin martial souls, becomes his teacher, and remains fiercely protective of him 7 8 11.
• Shi An — Antagonist. Shi An pranks and humiliates Yu Xiaogang at Nuoding Academy, later abducting and imprisoning him outside Spirit City 7 98 99.
• Flender — Longtime acquaintance and fellow Shrek figure. Yu Xiaogang assists in securing Flender's release from Soto City Martial Soul Hall, but their relationship strains after Flender exposes the danger of Yu Xiaogang's training plan 28 50.
• Director Bai — Academy official opposed to Yu Xiaogang's demand that the noble students involved in the back-mountain fight be expelled 11.
• Bibi Dong — Connected to Yu Xiaogang through his Honorary Elder status; during his imprisonment, he invokes her name and claims to be her former lover 98 99.
• Shrek Seven Devils — Students he trains at Shrek Academy. Following the scandal over his endurance regimen, he dismisses them as unqualified to be his disciples 50 54.

Notable Quotes

“I must take him as my disciple! Twin martial souls—I’ve encountered the second person with twin martial souls in a hundred years!” 7

“These work-study students have been bullied and oppressed by them for years. They only fought today because they could no longer endure it!” 11

“I am an honorary elder of Spirit Hall! Bibi Dong won't let you get away with this!” 99