Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Yu Xiaogang (玉小刚)
Alias(es)	Grandmaster
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Notting Junior Spirit Master Academy
Occupation/Role	Grandmaster; academy mentor and Tang San's teacher
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Background / History

Yu Xiaogang intervened when Notting Academy's gatekeeper humiliated Old Jack and refused Tang San's recommendation letter. The gatekeeper immediately became submissive upon recognizing him as Grandmaster. Yu Xiaogang inspected Tang San's Spirit Hall certificate, recognized his unusual potential, and personally took responsibility for registering Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Luo Yan. 2

He soon showed practical concern for the new work-study students by sending bedding to Tang San and Luo Yan, then privately examined their applications. Luo Yan's Elation Mask and Level 14 Spirit Power particularly drew his attention. 4

During Tang San's first Spirit Ring expedition, Yu Xiaogang listened to Tang San's revised understanding of Blue Silver Grass and adapted the search toward a Spirit Beast that could strengthen its toughness. He also analyzed Luo Yan's rare mask-type Martial Soul, suspecting that its Illusion Fox ring granted a mental, emotional, or illusion-based ability. 8

After the appearance of a masked Soul Master with a millennium second Spirit Ring in Notting City, Yu Xiaogang spent days studying eyewitness reports. He suspected a connection to Luo Yan's Elation Mask, but the masked figure's different appearance, build, voice, and movement prevented him from reaching a conclusion. 14

Following Luo Yan's spar with Tang San and Xiao Wu, Yu Xiaogang confronted him over his millennium second ring and unusual second Spirit Skill. His deeper concern was that Tang San and Xiao Wu were beginning to pursue Luo Yan's achievements rather than their own paths. 31

Appearance

Yu Xiaogang is an average-height, slightly thin man with short black hair and an ordinary appearance. His half-lidded eyes carry a persistent air of desolation. 2

• Thin build and average height. 2
• Short black hair. 2
• Usually keeps his hands clasped behind his back. 2
• His restrained demeanor still commands immediate respect within the academy. 2

Personality

Yu Xiaogang is reserved, melancholic, and eccentric, but he is also decisive when students need help. He does not indulge in theatrics; when he recognizes Tang San's potential, he acts immediately by assuming responsibility for his enrollment and later guiding his cultivation. 2 8

He approaches Martial Souls through careful theory and observation. His interest in Luo Yan is not merely academic: although Luo Yan's abilities challenge established theory, Yu Xiaogang worries that Luo Yan's distance and rapid growth may cast an unhealthy “shadow” over Tang San and Xiao Wu. 14 31

Abilities & Skills

Spirit Theory and Martial Soul Analysis

Yu Xiaogang possesses extensive knowledge of Martial Soul classifications, Spirit Ring limits, and Spirit Beast-derived abilities.

• Identified mask-type Martial Souls as exceptionally rare and generally associated with mental attacks, control, illusions, or support. 8
• Deduced that Luo Yan's first ring was roughly four hundred years old from his Level 14 Spirit Power. 4 5
• Connected Luo Yan's Illusion Fox Spirit Ring with mental interference, emotional influence, altered judgment, and illusions. 8
• Recognized the theoretical impossibility of a conventional Level 20 Soul Master safely absorbing a millennium second ring. 14 31

Mentorship

Yu Xiaogang adjusts his teaching to a student's demonstrated strengths rather than rigidly following initial assumptions.

• Accepted Tang San's insight that Blue Silver Grass's flexibility, extensibility, and natural restraint potential could be developed through increased toughness. 8
• Planned Tang San's first-ring hunt around that revised direction. 8
• Provided Tang San and Luo Yan with bedding after their arrival as work-study students. 4
• Investigated the disturbance at Dorm Seven and arranged for repairs after Tang San damaged the entrance and floor. 28

Relationships

• Tang San — Teacher and student. Yu Xiaogang recognizes Tang San's potential at enrollment, personally guides his Spirit Ring development, and remains concerned with his independent growth. 2 8 31
• Luo Yan — A student and unresolved exception to Yu Xiaogang's theories. Yu Xiaogang is intrigued by the Elation Mask and millennium second ring, but ultimately challenges Luo Yan over his influence on Tang San and Xiao Wu. 4 14 31
• Xiao Wu — Registered alongside Tang San and Luo Yan; later included in Yu Xiaogang's concern that Luo Yan's strength may cause the others to chase his “shadow.” 2 31
• Old Jack — Yu Xiaogang accepts Tang San's recommendation letter from him, ending the gatekeeper's obstruction. 2

Story Role / Major Arcs

Enrollment at Notting Academy

Yu Xiaogang ends the gatekeeper's abuse of authority, verifies Tang San's documents, and brings Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Luo Yan into the academy system. 2

Tang San's First Spirit Ring

He considers Tang San's developing combat style, listens to Luo Yan's indirect influence on Tang San's thinking, and revises the planned Spirit Ring direction toward improving Blue Silver Grass's toughness. 8

Investigation of the Notting City Masked Soul Master

Yu Xiaogang becomes consumed by reports of the masked figure's unprecedented yellow-and-purple ring configuration. Luo Yan is his leading suspicion, yet the conflicting evidence keeps the mystery unresolved. 14

Warning to Luo Yan

After observing Luo Yan's extraordinary second Spirit Skill and its effect on Tang San and Xiao Wu, Yu Xiaogang tells him that friends should pursue their own dreams rather than endlessly chase someone else's shadow. 31