Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Yu Xiaogang (玉小刚)
Alias(es)	Master
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Notting Soul Master Elementary Academy; Spirit Junior Academy
Occupation/Role	Martial soul theorist; teacher
Status	Alive 27
First Appearance	Chapter 6

Background / History

Yu Xiaogang served at Notting Soul Master Elementary Academy, where his theories sharply contrasted with the school’s standard teaching. While the academy taught that martial soul quality and innate soul power largely determine a soul master’s potential, Xiaogang argued that strong will and cultivation could make a weak martial soul powerful. He presented himself as a master of the “Ten Core Theories of Martial Souls.” 6 7

After observing Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass and full innate soul power, Xiaogang inferred that Tang San possessed twin martial souls. He confronted Tang San in his office—while Chen Ye was present—and directly asked about his second martial soul, exposing a secret that made Tang San immediately wary and hostile. 6

Xiaogang offered Tang San discipleship, sincerely stating his belief that “there are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters.” Tang San accepted him as his teacher in a formal kneeling ceremony. Xiaogang then attempted to recruit Chen Ye as a second disciple, but Chen Ye refused, saying he wanted a true powerhouse rather than a theory master. Xiaogang dismissed him and threatened to kill him if Tang San’s twin-martial-soul secret spread. 7

During the hunt for Tang San’s first soul ring, Xiaogang was poisoned by the Datura Snake and saved by Tang San, who cut open his arm and sucked out the poison. After Chen Ye ambushed Tang San, Tang Hao took Tang San away for treatment and instructed Xiaogang to help him obtain a soul ring. 12

Xiaogang initially brought a ten-year Solitary Bamboo for Tang San. Later, after a hundred-year Solitary Bamboo became available, he believed Tang San would absorb the stronger specimen. Chen Ye secretly exchanged the two bamboos, causing Tang San to absorb the ten-year soul ring instead. Xiaogang was attacked by Chen Ye outside his room and later reacted with disbelief upon seeing Tang San’s white soul ring; Tang San then assaulted him in anger over the mix-up. 13 18 19

Three days after Chen Ye, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Chen Yue left for Spirit City, Xiaogang used an Elder Token to secure a teaching position at Spirit Junior Academy. He objected to Chen Ye bringing Tang San into Spirit Hall, but could not prevent Tang San from remaining there. 27

Appearance

Yu Xiaogang is an adult man with a standard crew cut and a habit of standing with his hands behind his back. He carries himself with an aloof, proud bearing when addressing students. 6

• Standard crew cut. 6
• Frequently stands with his hands behind his back. 6
• Was left bruised and swollen after Chen Ye’s assault outside his staff dormitory. 18 19

Personality

Yu Xiaogang is deeply committed to martial soul theory and sees himself as an outlier in a world that prioritizes combat strength over scholarship. He speaks earnestly when recruiting Tang San and places great faith in his lifelong research. 7

He can also be imperious and careless with others’ safety. His decision to reveal Tang San’s twin martial souls before Chen Ye placed both boys in a volatile situation, and his response to Chen Ye’s rejection quickly turned cold and threatening. 6 7

Abilities & Skills

Martial Soul Theory

Yu Xiaogang is a dedicated researcher of martial souls and claims mastery of the Ten Core Theories of Martial Souls. His conclusions allowed him to deduce Tang San’s twin martial souls from the mismatch between Blue Silver Grass and full innate soul power. 7

• Identified Tang San’s second martial soul through theoretical deduction. 6 7
• Advocates the principle that personal ability matters more than the apparent quality of one’s martial soul. 6 7
• His views are disputed by Notting Academy’s standard curriculum, which emphasizes innate talent and martial soul quality. 6

Three-Shot Cannon

Yu Xiaogang possesses the martial soul known as the Three-Shot Cannon and has two soul rings. 7

• The martial soul manifested during Tang San’s attack, releasing a yellow mist. 19
• Chen Ye considered its combat capability insufficient to threaten him. 7

Equipment / Items

• Elder Token — An Elder Hall token that allowed Yu Xiaogang to enter Soul Hunting Forest and later obtain a teaching post at Spirit Junior Academy. 8 27
• Soul tool — Given to Tang San and used to cut open Xiaogang’s poisoned arm after the Datura Snake attack. 12
• Solitary Bamboos — He initially acquired a ten-year specimen for Tang San, while a stronger hundred-year specimen was later secretly exchanged with it by Chen Ye. 13 18 19

Relationships

• Tang San — Disciple. Xiaogang deduced Tang San’s twin martial souls and accepted him as a formal student; their relationship was severely strained after Tang San absorbed the wrong Solitary Bamboo soul ring. 6 7 19
• Chen Ye — Would-be disciple and adversary. Xiaogang attempted to recruit him, threatened him after being rejected, and was later assaulted by him; he disapproved of Chen Ye bringing Tang San to Spirit Junior Academy. 7 18 27
• Tang Hao — Tang San’s father. Tang Hao entrusted Xiaogang with helping Tang San obtain a soul ring after taking the injured Tang San away for treatment. 12
• Xiao Wu — Tang San’s companion and fellow Spirit Junior Academy student following Xiaogang’s transfer. 27

Notable Quotes

“There are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters.” 7

“You can only acknowledge one master in your life. Have you thought this through?” 7