Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Yu Xiaogang (玉小刚)
Alias(es)	“Master”; Teacher Yu
Gender	Male
Occupation/Role	Martial soul theorist; Tang San’s master
Affiliation	Nuoding Academy
Cultivation	Rank 29 Great Soul Master at age 47 4
Martial Soul	Luo San Pao
First Appearance	Chapter 4

Background / History

Yu Xiaogang came to Nuoding Academy seeking a place to continue his martial soul research. He told Principal Li that he required no pay; he wanted to refine his theories and hoped to encounter a talented student he could accept as a disciple. The academy could not hire him as a guest instructor because of limited funds. 4

Upon meeting Lin Chen and Tang San during their enrollment, Yu Xiaogang offered them guidance based on his theoretical knowledge. Lin Chen publicly challenged his qualifications, citing Yu Xiaogang’s age, Rank 29 cultivation, lack of published accomplishments, and absence of disciples. Unable to answer Lin Chen’s questions about his achievements or students, Yu Xiaogang left the Academic Affairs Office in humiliation. 4

Later, Yu Xiaogang encountered Tang San alone after class. He recognized that Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass possessed innate full soul power and argued that it was therefore an unusual, beneficial mutation rather than ordinary Blue Silver Grass. He offered Tang San daily instruction in martial soul theory and cultivation, admitting that he wanted a successful disciple to prove his theories were valid. Tang San accepted him as his master. 10

Yu Xiaogang took Tang San to Spirit Hunting Forest intending to secure a Mandala Snake spirit ring, which he considered suited to Blue Silver Grass. His plan failed when Tang San was forced to absorb a ten-year Lone Bamboo spirit ring after being attacked by the plant-type soul beast. Yu Xiaogang blamed himself for failing to protect his disciple and returned to the academy determined to help Tang San make use of the resulting skill. 11 12

Appearance

Yu Xiaogang is a thin middle-aged man in his forties, described as being as lean as a bamboo pole. He wears a faded gray robe and has high cheekbones, a sparse goatee, and a stern expression. 4 10

• Faded gray robe, repeatedly described as worn pale from washing. 4 10
• High cheekbones and several sparse strands of goatee. 4
• Carries himself with an initially self-important, scholarly air. 4

Personality

Yu Xiaogang is proud of his theoretical knowledge and initially presents himself as an authority on martial souls. When Lin Chen challenges his cultivation and record, however, he is left deeply humiliated and unable to defend his claims with concrete achievements. 4

Despite this insecurity, he is sincere in his pursuit of martial soul theory. He openly tells Tang San that he wants to cultivate an outstanding disciple to demonstrate that his lifelong research is not merely empty writing. His conviction in the principle that “there are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters” is portrayed as stubborn and deeply held. 10

As Tang San’s master, Yu Xiaogang is attentive and remorseful. After Tang San obtains the unsuitable Lone Bamboo ring, he is visibly devastated, accepts responsibility for the failure, and tries to encourage Tang San by focusing on the soul skill’s practical uses. 11 12

Abilities & Skills

Martial Soul Theory

Yu Xiaogang has spent most of his life studying martial souls, including their traits, soul-ring combinations, and cultivation paths. He particularly claims expertise regarding Blue Silver Grass. 10

• Identified Tang San’s innate full soul power as evidence that his Blue Silver Grass was not ordinary. 10
• Planned to obtain a Mandala Snake ring for Tang San, believing its venom and Entanglement skill would complement a control-type Blue Silver Grass martial soul. 12
• Recognized that Lone Bamboo’s hardening attribute was theoretically unsuitable for Blue Silver Grass because it would compromise flexibility. 11
• His theories lack documented successful disciples before Tang San. 4

Luo San Pao

Yu Xiaogang’s martial soul is Luo San Pao. During the Lone Bamboo incident, he summoned it and used a yellow beam attack to strike the attacking plant, freeing Tang San. 11

• Possesses at least one yellow soul ring. 11
• Its demonstrated attack was not enough to prevent Tang San from beginning the spirit-ring absorption process. 11

Relationships

• Tang San — Master and disciple. Yu Xiaogang sees Tang San as the opportunity to validate his theories, while Tang San seeks his guidance to become stronger. 10
• Lin Chen — Publicly humiliated Yu Xiaogang at Nuoding Academy, dismissing him as an unqualified theorist with no practical achievements. 4
• Principal Li — Refused Yu Xiaogang’s request to serve as a guest instructor because Nuoding Academy had limited funds. 4

Story Role / Major Arcs

Nuoding Academy Enrollment

Yu Xiaogang first appears while attempting to secure a place at Nuoding Academy. His attempt to recruit Lin Chen and Tang San is interrupted when Lin Chen challenges his cultivation, theory, and lack of accomplishments, driving him away in disgrace. 4

Taking Tang San as a Disciple

After seeing Tang San’s isolation and dissatisfaction, Yu Xiaogang approaches him privately and offers specialized guidance for Blue Silver Grass. Tang San becomes his first documented disciple. 10

Spirit Hunting Forest

Yu Xiaogang leads Tang San into Spirit Hunting Forest to seek a Mandala Snake ring. Instead, Tang San absorbs a ten-year Lone Bamboo ring and gains Blue Silver Pole Vault, leaving Yu Xiaogang regretful over the damaged start to his disciple’s cultivation path. 11 12

Notable Quotes

“There are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters.” 10

“I have written theories my whole life, and no one has acknowledged them. But if I can raise an outstanding soul master, then my theories will no longer be empty words on paper.” 10