Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Power Progression

Background & History

Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan

Yu Xiaogang was born into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, but his inherited Martial Soul mutated into the pig-like Luo Sanpao. The mutation became the basis for his expulsion from the clan and lasting insecurity over his status and strength 5 120.

After leaving the clan, he spent decades developing his Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls and built a reputation as the “Grandmaster” through theoretical study rather than combat strength 42 190.

He also traveled the continent with Flender and Liu Erlong as the Golden Iron Triangle's Corner of Wisdom. Liu Erlong initially remembered him as the group's strategist, whose plans she and Flender carried out successfully during their shared adventures 120.

Although he continued to consider Yu Yuanzhen his father, Yu Tianheng later informed him that he had long been expelled from the clan and was no longer recognized as Yu Yuanzhen's son 120.

Yu Xiaogang resented the clan's favorable treatment of Ye Hua and hoped to use a renewed relationship with Liu Erlong to reconnect with Yu Yuanzhen and regain his former position as young clan master 120 125.

He also asked Yu Tianheng to seek clan cultivation subsidies for his disciples, offering to guide the clan's students in exchange. Liu Erlong privately questioned this request because Tang San was already receiving support from the Crown Prince's Residence, Blue Lightning Tyrant Academy, and Shrek Academy. Yu Tianheng agreed only to convey the request, without promising that Yu Yuanzhen would approve it 120.

Notting Junior Soul Master Academy

At Notting Academy, Yu Xiaogang took Tang San as his disciple after recognizing the potential value of Tang San's Innate Full Soul Power and Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul for validating his theories 3 11. He subsequently attempted to recruit Ye Hua as a disciple, intending to nullify Ye Hua and Tang San's wager and place Ye Hua beneath Tang San as a junior brother 5.

Before making this offer, he tried to dismiss Tang San's wager as a childish joke and argued that Ye Hua's exceptional talent obligated him to be forgiving 4.

Ye Hua publicly exposed Yu Xiaogang's clan expulsion and Luo Sanpao's true form. Unable to refute the accusations, Yu Xiaogang spat blood and collapsed in front of the academy's students 5.

Despite his lack of practical medical experience, he attempted to reset Tang San's broken bones. His first attempt set Tang San's forearm crookedly and caused extreme pain before he corrected it 11. He later planned to delay Ye Hua's Soul Ring application while personally guiding Tang San into the Soul Hunting Forest 11.

Tang San's account of Ye Hua's changed Martial Soul and Soul Power initially led Yu Xiaogang to suspect that Ye Hua might be an Evil Soul Master. His attempt to obstruct Ye Hua's Soul Hunting application was rejected by Director Su 11.

During the hunt, Yu Xiaogang confronted a four-hundred-year Mandala Snake with Tang San. Luo Sanpao's foul-smelling attack briefly assisted against the Soul Beast, but left the Martial Soul exhausted while Yu Xiaogang was affected by the snake's venomous mist 13.

After Ye Hua killed the snake, Yu Xiaogang thanked him for saving their lives and again considered the value of recruiting him as a theoretical test subject. Privately, he explained to Tang San that they were too injured and outmatched to challenge Ye Hua. Their subsequent search failed to secure a powerful replacement Soul Ring, and Tang San returned with a ten-year first Soul Ring; Yu Xiaogang reassured him that stronger later rings could compensate for the poor start 14 15.

When Tang Hao visited, Yu Xiaogang recounted Tang San's injuries and accused Ye Hua of taking the Mandala Snake's Soul Ring. He also suggested that Ye Hua might have arranged the bandit attack that had left master and disciple stripped of their belongings. After Tang Hao departed, Yu Xiaogang privately celebrated the prospect that he would kill Ye Hua 18.

Yu Xiaogang later claimed that he had enlisted an old friend, a Title Douluo, to kill Ye Hua and assured Tang San that Ye Hua had died. Ye Hua's reappearance immediately exposed the failure of this scheme 21.

Ye Hua identified the attacker as Tang Hao and struck Yu Xiaogang in the chest with the Coiling Dragon Staff, breaking his ribs and throwing him into a wall. Yu Xiaogang later recalled spending three months bedridden recovering from the attack while periodically being questioned as a suspect 21 42.

Yu Xiaogang lost his guest instructor position after he and Tang San were reported for running naked through Notting City. He was also accused of arranging an attempt on Ye Hua's life and detained for investigation 23.

Shrek Academy and the Teaching Contest

Six years later, Yu Xiaogang returned as Tang San's teacher at Shrek Academy. He challenged Ye Hua to a one-month teaching contest at the Soto Great Spirit Arena, taking Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun as his students 42.

Before his return, Ye Hua permanently blacklisted Yu Xiaogang, Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun through his system, excluding them from the benefits of his training 40.

Yu Xiaogang initially won Ma Hongjun's loyalty by accurately identifying the source of his Evil Fire Phoenix condition and promising to cure it within a month. He also funded Tang San's hidden-weapon forging and devised individualized combat training for Dai Mubai 43.

He dismissed Ye Hua's promise to give support-type Soul Masters combat ability as sensationalism, arguing that the nature of their Martial Souls fixed their supporting role and that such promises would mislead students 43.

Yu Xiaogang's group showed no Soul Power growth over the month, while Ye Hua's students gained an average of two levels. During this period, Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire burned Yu Xiaogang badly enough to leave him bald 44. His confidence further collapsed after Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun were humiliated at the Great Spirit Arena, costing him his wager with Ye Hua 59.

During the training period, he repeatedly attempted to blame Ye Hua's students for clashes initiated by his own disciples. When he asked Flender to intervene after Tang San and Dai Mubai were injured, Flender instead recognized Tang San's provocation and violation of the match rules 45 46.

Manager Yang of the Soto Great Spirit Arena approached Yu Xiaogang under the pretense of joining forces against Ye Hua. Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun accepted loans and arranged easy opponents to earn money for hiring powerful Soul Masters against Ye Hua, despite Yu Xiaogang's warning. Yu Xiaogang nevertheless celebrated Tang San's resulting victories as evidence that his training had worked; Manager Yang secretly made Ye Hua the creditor on their contracts 56 57 58.

During the later Star Dou Forest expedition, Yu Xiaogang tried to compel Ye Hua to rescue Tang San from the Netherworld Cat. Ning Rongrong rebuked him for ignoring Tang San's attempt to steal Zhu Zhuqing's Soul Ring. Yu Xiaogang then attacked with Luo Sanpao, but the Soul Beast knocked both aside and left him hanging in the treetops 63.

After Tang San's right hand was crippled, Yu Xiaogang encouraged him to seek a Divine Examination as a way to restore his injuries and pursue revenge against Ye Hua 77 82. He also concluded that Ye Hua was a transformed Soul Beast—possibly a several-hundred-thousand-year Fierce Beast—and later presented this claim to Spirit Hall 78 185.

His proposed arrangement with Spirit Hall would give Xiao Wu's and Wang Qiu'er's Soul Rings and Spirit Bones to the organization while reserving Ye Hua's supposed Soul Ring and Spirit Bone for Tang San. He intended to exploit his acquaintance with the Pope to organize the hunt after the tournament finals 78.

Yu Xiaogang bailed Tang San out of prison after his further injuries, told him that reaching Soul Emperor rank might qualify him for a Divine Examination, and arranged for him to join the Berserk Team at the Soto Great Spirit Arena 82.

Yu Xiaogang later publicly promoted Tang San's rapid advance from Rank 31 to Rank 38 and requested imperial cultivation subsidies on his behalf. He failed to recognize that Tang San had overdrawn the potential of his Clear Sky Hammer through prematurely attaching Soul Rings to it 112 190.

Expulsion and Fall

After Ye Hua arrived at Blue Lightning Tyrant Academy, Yu Xiaogang attempted to enlist Liu Erlong's support by listing Tang San's injuries and grievances against him. He signaled Tang San to act as a victim, but Liu Erlong condemned Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun for harassing Jiangzhu. Yu Xiaogang appealed to the Golden Iron Triangle's former mutual trust, but Liu Erlong refused to excuse their conduct and warned that further offenses would result in expulsion 119.

At Blue Lightning Tyrant Academy, Yu Xiaogang challenged Ye Hua to another student competition. After his side had already lost, he exploited a rules loophole to force a third match and secretly gave Ma Hongjun plant-type Soul Beast spores intended to cause chaos among Ye Hua's female students 120 123.

The spores were identified as Hallucinogenic Mushroom spores, intended to make Ye Hua's women lose control. Their effects instead escalated within Ma Hongjun, causing fungal growths and uncontrolled desire; Ma Hongjun directly named Yu Xiaogang as their source and pointed to evidence in his drawer 124.

Ma Hongjun's testimony, the spore residue, and Yu Xiaogang's purchase order exposed his involvement. Liu Erlong rejected his explanations, while Flender expelled him from Shrek Academy; he was also expelled from Blue Lightning Tyrant Academy 125.

Yu Xiaogang tried to justify the scheme as an attempt to validate his theories and invoked his past hardships and love for Liu Erlong. She rejected these appeals, while Flender condemned him for endangering Ma Hongjun, his godson. After being physically thrown out of the academy, Yu Xiaogang set out for Spirit City to seek Bibi Dong's help against Ye Hua 125.

Following the incident, Liu Erlong fully accepted Ye Hua's assessment of Yu Xiaogang and resolved to sever her ties with him 126.

Yu Xiaogang subsequently used a Papal Token to free Tang San and ordered Salas to send both the Long Night Team and Shrek Team directly to the tournament finals. He explained that advancing Ye Hua's team would provide an opportunity to surround and kill him with the assistance of Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo 151.

During Spirit Hall's ambush on the tournament convoy, Yu Xiaogang watched from a cliff with Tang San. He promised to help Tang San obtain Ye Hua's Spirit Bone and force the girl beside Ye Hua to sacrifice herself 172.

When Spirit Hall's ambush was repelled, Yu Xiaogang tried to carry the injured Tang San back to the convoy unnoticed. Flender and Liu Erlong confronted them for abandoning the battle and ordered them to leave. Flender lamented that the Golden Iron Triangle's participation could have prevented some of the knights' deaths 174.

After Spirit Hall moved against Ye Hua, Yu Xiaogang testified that Ye Hua's childhood identity and Martial Soul awakening were fabricated disguises for a Soul Beast transformation 185.

He also tried to dissuade Liu Erlong from opposing Spirit Hall. She attacked him, and Bibi Dong ignored his appeal for rescue. After the confrontation at the Papal Palace, Ye Hua had Tie Xiong seize Yu Xiaogang; neither Flender nor Liu Erlong responded to his pleas for help 185 187.

Yu Xiaogang attempted to resist capture by claiming to be a Spirit Hall Elder personally appointed by Bibi Dong. Qian Daoliu rejected this claim, explaining that an Elder required both his and the Pope's approval, a formal appointment ceremony, and public recognition. Yu Xiaogang had received only a verbal promise, and Bibi Dong sealed his mouth rather than defend his claimed position 187.

Ye Hua later subjected Yu Xiaogang to Soul Search to extract his knowledge of Martial Soul Fusion Skills, sealed his Soul Power, and abandoned him to a pleasure house, where he was forced to work as a greeter 190 250. Tang San eventually redeemed him for one thousand Gold Soul Coins and sought his advice on the Self-Abuse Domain 250.

Before Yu Xiaogang entered the pleasure house, Ye Hua cursed him with misfortune through Mystic Wonder. A cart struck him, he tripped into a shop, and he broke a vase that the brothel madam falsely valued at one thousand Gold Soul Coins. Unable to pay or summon Luo Sanpao, he was forced into service. The madam also reported that Spirit Hall had announced his death at the hands of the Long Night Alliance, undermining his attempts to invoke his former identity 190.

Ye Hua ordered his subordinates to watch Yu Xiaogang and prevent his escape, explicitly considering an immediate death too lenient a punishment 190.

Tang San's rescue came after Yu Xiaogang had become severely emaciated. Yu Xiaogang persuaded him to view the Self-Abuse Domain's torment as training for pain tolerance and willpower, and Tang San gave him ten thousand Gold Soul Coins before leaving to cultivate 250.

After briefly obtaining wealth through a one-million Copper Soul Coin banknote, Yu Xiaogang spent freely on clothing, food, and credit. When the note brought official scrutiny, he was publicly exposed as a suspected swindler, stripped of his purchases, and had his wig forcibly removed 251 253 254.

The Enforcement Squad questioned him because the banknote was suspected to belong to a vanished flower thief. Yu Xiaogang claimed Tang San had given it to him, but could not produce the original note when officers searched his inn room. After learning that Tang San was a wanted criminal, his creditors confronted and beat him. Yu Xiaogang attempted to retaliate with Luo Sanpao, but a Soul Saint suppressed the Martial Soul and sealed his Soul Power at Laila's request 253 254.

Tavern workers then forced him to wash dishes to repay his debt. After closing, they fed him rotten leftovers mixed with swill, which he forced himself to consume. Ye Hua and Hu Liena observed from a rooftop, while Dai Mubai watched from the shadows. Ye Hua thanked the city guards for assisting with the Crown Prince's order 254.

In his later years, Yu Xiaogang drifted through Heaven Dou City in poverty. He attempted to earn a living by copying texts, but habitually added condescending theoretical criticisms that drove away customers; he consequently accumulated debts with taverns, shops, and pleasure houses 404.

He also worked as a tavern dishwasher. According to his account, he was required to wash three hundred bowls daily, lost half a month's wages after breaking a chipped bowl, and was eventually dismissed for eating too much. He returned to a brothel and lived in a back-courtyard woodshed containing a straw mat and thin blanket 405.

Tang San later encountered him again in a brothel district. Yu Xiaogang suggested that a Divine Inheritance might be the only means of overcoming the Self-Abuse Domain that prevented Tang San from circulating Soul Power, and Tang San agreed to settle Yu Xiaogang's debts 405.

During the subsequent pursuit of Tang San, the brothel's men found Yu Xiaogang unconscious and carried him away while Tang San fled into a sewer 408.

Yu Xiaogang was subsequently beaten and left severely disabled. Months later, he was reduced to crawling to a restaurant on his hands with broken legs, unable to pay a debt of nineteen Copper Soul Coins. He eventually disappeared, and by the following year the restaurant workers presumed that he had died 409.

Appearance

Yu Xiaogang was initially a thin-faced, middle-aged man in a black robe, with gloomy eyes that reflected his unfulfilled ambitions 2.

• Thin build and narrow face.
• Usually wore dark or plain robes during his teaching career.
• Became completely bald after being burned by Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire 44.
• The same fire also burned away his eyebrows and beard 45.
• Attempts to restore his hair through healing-type Soul Masters and remedies such as rubbing ginger on his scalp failed 62.
• Later appeared emaciated while working at a pleasure house, wearing a gray jacket, red sash, rouge, and a “Welcome Guests” sign 250.
• Used a wig to conceal his baldness after briefly acquiring wealth; it was forcibly removed during his exposure as a fraud 254.
• During his brief period of apparent wealth, wore expensive ceremonial robes and a brocade belt and occasionally changed back into his old clothes to flaunt his improved circumstances 253.
• In his later destitution, he had a gaunt face, a largely bald crown with only sparse gray hair at his temples, lingering bruises, and a formerly black-and-gold robe washed gray with frayed, grease-stained cuffs 404.
• After being severely injured, he became unable to walk and crawled using his hands 409.

Personality

Yu Xiaogang is deeply driven by status, recognition, and the desire to prove that his Martial Soul theories are valid. He sees talented disciples—especially Tang San—as opportunities to restore the reputation he lost after his clan expulsion 11 14.

He presents himself as composed, scholarly, and principled, but repeatedly prioritizes his theories and personal grievances over his students' well-being. He attempted to block Ye Hua's Soul Ring application, used Tang San as a key theoretical specimen, and manipulated Ma Hongjun with dangerous spores to gain an advantage in a competition 11 123 125.

His confidence is fragile beneath his cultivated “Grandmaster” persona. Public humiliation, failed teaching results, and Ye Hua's superiority repeatedly provoke fear, jealousy, or desperation 5 44 59. Even after losing his status and Soul Power, however, he retains enough composure to advise Tang San to reframe pain and hardship as cultivation opportunities 250 405.

He frequently appeals to moral restraint, friendship, or old affection when defending himself and Tang San, while minimizing their responsibility for provoking conflict. His appeals to Liu Erlong culminated in asking her to dismiss Ye Hua despite the evidence that he had endangered students 4 46 119 125.

His hostility toward Ye Hua includes deliberate manipulation of stronger allies. He exaggerated his role in Tang Hao's attempted killing of Ye Hua, later pursued Spirit Hall's help, and continued to promise revenge even after Soul Search and the sealing of his Soul Power 18 21 78 125 190.

His concern with appearances also extended to wealth and social treatment. Manager Yang's flattery readily restored his sense of importance, while his brief possession of money led him to buy expensive clothing and deliberately display his improved circumstances 57 251 253.

During his life as a vagrant, Yu Xiaogang remained unable to abandon the title of “Grandmaster.” He continued to lecture tavern patrons and children on Martial Soul theory, dismissed challenges to his work as ignorance, and rationalized his downfall as an academic sacrifice 404.

Abilities & Skills

Luo Sanpao

Yu Xiaogang's Martial Soul is Luo Sanpao, a mutated remnant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul.

• Revealed as a pale-purple, round, pig-like creature with oversized ears 5.
• Its combat image and limitations became a major source of Yu Xiaogang's humiliation.
• Yu Xiaogang was publicly challenged over the claim that Luo Sanpao exhausted itself after releasing flatulence and could only fight three times per day; he could not deny the description 5.
• Luo Sanpao demonstrated an ability to detect approaching danger through its hearing and sense of smell during the Soul Hunting Forest expedition 12.
• Used the foul-smelling attack Heaven-Shattering Earth-Splitting Luo Sanpao against a four-hundred-year Mandala Snake, but the attack left Luo Sanpao exhausted 13.
• Was knocked aside together with Yu Xiaogang when attacking the Netherworld Cat 63.
• Luo Sanpao was easily suppressed by the pressure of a Soul Saint 254.

Martial Soul Theory

Yu Xiaogang's chief expertise is theoretical research, particularly the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls.

• Advocates physical conditioning, practical combat, and dietary discipline as the foundation of Soul Master training 42.
• Possesses knowledge of Soul Ring age limits and Soul Beast classifications, though his conclusions are often challenged by Ye Hua's abnormal cultivation path 62 78.
• Can identify potential benefits and risks in Tang San's cultivation choices, including the possibility of Divine Examinations restoring lost limbs 82.
• His teaching results were poor during the contest with Ye Hua: Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun made no Soul Power progress over a month 44.
• Maintained that support-type Soul Masters lacked direct combat ability because of their Martial Souls' inherent nature, rejecting Ye Hua's promise to change this as misleading 43.
• Claimed a two-thousand-year limit for a third Soul Ring and a five-thousand-two-hundred-year limit for a fourth Soul Ring. Ye Hua's own configuration and Zhu Zhuqing's ten-thousand-year fourth ring challenged his insistence that these limits were universally binding 62 121.
• Despite previously recommending Divine Examinations to Tang San, he was unable to demonstrate substantive knowledge of them when questioned by Ye Hua after his capture 82 190.
• Interpreted the Self-Abuse Domain as a means of strengthening pain tolerance and willpower, later proposing Divine Inheritance when its effects became too severe for Tang San to circulate Soul Power 250 405.
• Continued to insist upon the authority of his theory even after his fall, including citing a four-hundred-and-twenty-three-year limit for a first Soul Ring 404.

Martial Soul Fusion Skill Research

Yu Xiaogang possessed knowledge related to Martial Soul Fusion Skills.

• Claimed he could enable teams with unrelated Martial Souls to use fusion skills 190.
• This knowledge was the only ability Ye Hua considered worth extracting through Soul Search 190.
• Flender later criticized his absence during Spirit Hall's ambush on the grounds that the Golden Iron Triangle could have acted together to reduce the knights' casualties 174.

Practical Limitations

• Had no hands-on experience with fracture treatment before attempting to reset Tang San's bones 11.
• His first bone-setting attempt was incorrect and worsened Tang San's pain 11.
• Relied on his recollection of the Soul Master First Aid Manual while attempting the treatment 11.
• His Soul Power remained below Rank 30 despite decades of theoretical study 190.
• Ye Hua sealed his Soul Power after subjecting him to Soul Search; it was later described as crippled 190 404.
• Soul Search lasted approximately a quarter of an hour and left him convulsing, mentally overwhelmed, and subsequently suffering a severe headache 190.
• Although he later summoned Luo Sanpao again, a Soul Saint resealed his Soul Power during the confrontation with his creditors 254.
• His later physical injuries left him unable to walk, further limiting his ability to survive independently 409.

Equipment & Items

• Clear Sky Douluo's token — Given to Yu Xiaogang by Tang Hao as an emergency resource after Tang Hao entrusted Tang San's early development to him 18.
• Papal Token — Used to secure Tang San's release and order Salas to advance the Long Night Team and Shrek Team directly to the tournament finals 151. Although the token made Salas treat him as an Elder, Qian Daoliu later established that Yu Xiaogang had never received a valid formal appointment to that position 151 187.
• Money pouch — Provided to Tang San to support the forging of hidden weapons 96.
• Hallucinogenic Mushroom spores — Supplied to Ma Hongjun for the third match against Ye Hua's students. The remaining spores and purchase order helped establish Yu Xiaogang's responsibility for the scheme 123 124 125.
• Healing medicine — Used alongside Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Technique during his recovery from early injuries 21.
• Ten thousand Gold Soul Coins — Given to him by Tang San after his rescue from the pleasure house 250.
• One-million Copper Soul Coin banknote — Used by Yu Xiaogang to obtain preferential treatment from merchants before it led to his public disgrace as a suspected swindler 251 253.
• Theoretical notes — Crumpled handwritten papers containing his Martial Soul theories, which he continued carrying and displaying during his later impoverishment 404.

Relationships

• Tang San — Disciple and Yu Xiaogang's primary theoretical specimen. Yu Xiaogang repeatedly supports Tang San's cultivation and revenge against Ye Hua, while Tang San later rescues him from the pleasure house. During their later reunion, Yu Xiaogang proposed seeking a Divine Inheritance to counter the Self-Abuse Domain, and Tang San promised to settle his debts 11 82 250 405. Tang San privately expressed contempt for his incompetence and later poverty, but continued to seek him out when his advice might be useful 11 248 405.
• Ye Hua — Principal rival. Ye Hua exposed Yu Xiaogang's Martial Soul, defeated his students' results in two teaching contests, uncovered his spore scheme, and ultimately sealed his Soul Power after Soul Search 5 59 125 190. Ye Hua also permanently blacklisted him through the system and later cursed him with misfortune 40 190. Ye Hua later observed Yu Xiaogang after his severe beating and left his final fate to Qian Renxue 409.
• Liu Erlong — Cousin, former romantic partner, and former Golden Iron Triangle companion 2 125. Yu Xiaogang attempted to regain her support, but she rejected him after learning he had endangered Ma Hongjun and plotted against Ye Hua. She later resolved to cut ties with him completely 125 126. He had hoped to use their renewed relationship to restore his standing within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan 125. By her later reunion with Ye Hua, she had begun to emerge from the emotional shadow of Yu Xiaogang's betrayal. She subsequently accepted a new role leading Ye Hua's Soul Tool Academy and arranged to hand Blue Tyrant Academy over to Flender 335 336.
• Flender — Former Golden Iron Triangle companion and Shrek Academy headmaster. Flender initially welcomed Yu Xiaogang as a teacher but expelled him after the spore incident 42 125. His disappointment deepened when Yu Xiaogang abandoned the convoy during Spirit Hall's ambush, and he refused to help when Yu Xiaogang was taken captive at the Papal Palace 174 187.
• Bibi Dong — Former girlfriend and Spirit Hall's Pope. Yu Xiaogang relied on their past relationship when planning cooperation against Ye Hua and sought her help after his academy expulsions 78 125 187. During the Papal Palace confrontation, she ignored his appeal for rescue, and he felt betrayed by her failure to prevent his capture 185 187. Her promise to make him an Elder had never been formalized; when Qian Daoliu exposed this, she silenced Yu Xiaogang rather than uphold his claim 187.
• Qian Renxue — Ye Hua presented Yu Xiaogang and Tang Hao as responsible for her family's suffering while negotiating with her Evil Thought. Evil Thought agreed to merge with Benevolent Thought in exchange for Yu Xiaogang's whereabouts, and Ye Hua later left his final fate to Qian Renxue 398 409.
• Tang Hao — Tang San's father. Tang Hao trusted Yu Xiaogang with Tang San's early development, but believed Yu Xiaogang's practical combat ability was insufficient for Tang San's later growth 18. Yu Xiaogang exploited his concern for Tang San to encourage an attack on Ye Hua 18 21.
• Ma Hongjun — Student used by Yu Xiaogang as the final participant in the contest against Ye Hua. Yu Xiaogang gave him dangerous spores, then attempted to deny responsibility when the plan failed 123 124.
• Dai Mubai — Chose Yu Xiaogang as his instructor for the teaching contest against Ye Hua and received individualized combat training, but made no Soul Power progress during the month 42 43 44. He later witnessed Yu Xiaogang's humiliation and forced tavern labor from the shadows 254.
• Yu Yuanzhen — Father and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan patriarch. Yu Xiaogang continued to seek paternal recognition despite his expulsion and resented Yu Yuanzhen's favorable treatment of Ye Hua 120 125.
• Yu Tianheng — Nephew. Yu Tianheng informed Yu Xiaogang that he had already been expelled from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and was no longer recognized as Yu Yuanzhen's son 120. Despite privately looking down on him, Yu Tianheng agreed to relay his request for cultivation subsidies to Yu Yuanzhen without guaranteeing its approval 120.
• Manager Yang — Soto Great Spirit Arena manager who offered apparent cooperation against Ye Hua. Yu Xiaogang welcomed his flattering treatment, unaware that the loan arrangements for his students ultimately named Ye Hua as their creditor 56 57.
• Salas — Spirit Hall official whom Yu Xiaogang compelled to release Tang San and arrange direct advancement to the tournament finals by displaying the Papal Token. Salas resented the demands but complied because he believed Yu Xiaogang held an Elder's authority 151.
• Qian Daoliu — Rejected Yu Xiaogang's claim to be a Spirit Hall Elder and exposed the lack of a formal appointment, removing his attempted protection against Ye Hua's capture 187.
• Brothel madam — Forced him to work as a greeter after he broke a vase and could not pay the demanded compensation. Tang San later bought his freedom, but Yu Xiaogang eventually returned to the brothel in destitution and lived in its woodshed 190 250 405.

Notable Quotes

“I have studied Martial Soul theory for decades, traveled across the continent, pored over the secret manuals of ancient sects, and summarized three core principles of training.” 42

“When you cannot defeat your opponent, you must endure!” 98

“The rules only said best two out of three. They never said you couldn't fight a third match after losing two, did they?” 123

“I'm the Grandmaster! A grandmaster of Martial Soul theory! I can help you train students!” 190

“Only by enduring the bitterest hardships can one rise above others!” 405

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