Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Yu Xiaogang (玉小刚)
Alias(es)	Grandmaster; Master 41
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Notting Academy; Shrek Academy; Heaven Dou Empire (former Imperial Preceptor/State Preceptor) 1 40 166 313
Occupation/Role	Martial Soul theorist, teacher, researcher, military instructor 41 111 170
Status	Alive; last seen collapsing unconscious after learning Jin Lian and Flender had betrayed him 314
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Soul Grandmaster — Level 29 bottleneck	109	Remained unable to pass Rank 30 despite his theoretical renown; regarded the limitation as his greatest regret.
Level 30	117	The Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma removed his lifelong bottleneck, allowing him to prepare for a third Spirit Ring and the Soul Elder realm.
Cultivation severely reduced	120	Tang San interrupted his nearly completed absorption of a 1,900-year third Spirit Ring. The ring dissipated, his absorbed Soul Power burst out, and Yu Xiaogang considered himself crippled.

Background / History

Notting Academy

Yu Xiaogang intervened when Notting Academy guards obstructed Tang San’s enrollment, verified Tang San’s Innate Full Soul Power, and found that Wang Feng possessed it as well. Seeing two exceptional children, he personally escorted them into the academy in the hope that they could validate his Martial Soul theories. 1

He accurately inferred that Tang San possessed Twin Martial Souls and accepted him as a disciple. He also initially classified Wang Feng’s Green Light as a Mutated Martial Soul, then had to revise that conclusion when it proved to be an ordinary but unprecedented “trash” Martial Soul. 2 3

While escorting the children, Wang Feng secretly used Green Source Energy on him, permanently turning his black hair green. Yu Xiaogang eventually deduced that the effect came from Wang Feng’s Martial Soul; rather than resent it, he treated it as evidence that Wang Feng was an extraordinary potential disciple. 2 5

Yu Xiaogang repeatedly tried to recruit Wang Feng, claiming that only informed guidance could safely develop a first-of-its-kind Martial Soul. Wang Feng refused, leaving Yu Xiaogang humiliated and increasingly convinced that the boy would fail without him. 6 12 13

Tang San’s Mentor

Yu Xiaogang guided Tang San’s first Spirit Ring hunt and encouraged him to test the Martial Soul Mimicry Theory by absorbing a Mandala Snake ring with Blue Silver Grass. Tang San succeeded, but Yu Xiaogang was poisoned during the encounter and had to be treated by his disciple. 7

He recognized the significance of Tang San’s Clear Sky Hammer and ordered him not to attach a Spirit Ring to it without permission. He also supplied Tang San with study materials, meals, and cultivation guidance, strengthening Tang San’s father-like loyalty toward him. 6 9

After arriving at Shrek Academy, Yu Xiaogang harshly reprimanded Tang San for absorbing an unknown-aged Man Faced Demon Spider ring, but his anger stemmed from fear for Tang San’s life. He nevertheless maintained that Tang San’s talent far exceeded Wang Feng’s and dismissed Wang Feng’s Spirit-Ring-free combat path as unorthodox. 40

Shrek Academy and Spirit Ring Research

Flender retained Yu Xiaogang as a Shrek Academy teacher and publicly introduced him as the creator of the Ten Core Competitiveness Theories of Martial Souls. His attempt to establish authority immediately faltered when Ning Rongrong questioned his cultivation rank and Zhu Zhuqing challenged the logic of his maxim, “There are no useless martial souls, only useless Soul Masters.” 41

Yu Xiaogang revised his Spirit Ring Lifespan Table after Tang San, Ma Hongjun, and Ning Rongrong exceeded previously accepted third-ring limits. He publicly argued that absorption limits depended on physique and aptitude as well as ring age, using his students’ achievements as evidence. 92 109 111

The theory brought him renewed fame but also caused serious consequences: some Soul Masters who attempted overly old rings were crippled or killed. Wang Feng criticized the framework as self-protecting because successful cases validated it while failed cases could be blamed on insufficient talent. 116

Wang Feng’s ten-thousand-year fourth Spirit Ring openly contradicted Yu Xiaogang’s stated limits. The shock pushed Yu Xiaogang to attempt a 1,900-year third ring; although he was close to succeeding, Tang San interrupted the process on Flender’s advice, destroying the breakthrough and severely reducing Yu Xiaogang’s cultivation. 119 120

Imperial Preceptor and Downfall

Xue Qinghe recruited Yu Xiaogang as Heaven Dou Empire’s Imperial Preceptor. He accepted after Flender and Liu Erlong argued that the position would give him influence, allow him to support Tang San, oppose Spirit Hall, and spread his theories. 166

As Imperial Preceptor, he taught the Heaven Dou military his Seven-in-One Fusion Technique. The technique allowed teams of seven Soul Masters to combine their power, and impressed Emperor Xue Ye despite its limit of three uses per year. 170

Xue Qinghe later dismissed Yu Xiaogang from office, accusing him of secret contact with Tang San and leaking imperial information. Court evidence also exposed his relationships with courtesans, an illegitimate daughter, allegations of plagiarism, and an imperial physician’s diagnosis of advanced incurable syphilis. 313

After his dismissal, Yu Xiaogang sought refuge with Jin Lian, only to find her with Flender. Jin Lian declared that her child was Flender’s rather than Yu Xiaogang’s, and Yu Xiaogang collapsed from rage and humiliation. 314

Appearance

Yu Xiaogang originally had black hair, but Wang Feng’s Green Source Energy changed it permanently to a conspicuous green. By the time of his Shrek debut, he was also noted for unshaven stubble and simple clothing. 2 40 41

• Bright green hair, which draws immediate attention in public. 3 40
• Originally black-haired before Wang Feng’s Martial Soul affected him. 2 5
• Often unshaven and plainly dressed. 41

Personality

Yu Xiaogang is intensely ambitious about proving his theories and restoring his reputation. He consistently treats talented students—especially Tang San—as evidence that his ideas are correct, and his pride makes him react poorly when Wang Feng’s independent achievements contradict his conclusions. 5 10 119 120

He can be genuinely protective of Tang San and values their bond deeply, but this care coexists with a willingness to make students test dangerous theories. His need for recognition also leads him to publicly connect his own reputation to his disciples’ successes. 7 40 92 111

Abilities & Skills

Martial Soul Theory and Research

Yu Xiaogang is a renowned Martial Soul theorist credited with the Ten Core Competitiveness Theories of Martial Souls. His knowledge allows him to identify unusual Martial Souls, infer Tang San’s Twin Martial Souls, and formulate cultivation plans. 2 41

• Developed and tested the Martial Soul Mimicry Theory, which held that a plant-type Martial Soul could absorb an animal-type Spirit Ring; Tang San’s Mandala Snake ring served as its successful test case. 7
• Formulated multiple Spirit Ring Lifespan Tables, later revising them to account for physique and aptitude. 109 111
• His later table proved unreliable as a universal standard: it was contradicted by Wang Feng’s fourth ring and led some followers to injury or death. 116 119
• Bibi Dong stated that much of Yu Xiaogang’s theoretical reputation came from Spirit Hall archive knowledge she had previously provided him. 132

Tactical Analysis

Despite limited personal combat power, Yu Xiaogang can assess Spirit Beasts and direct stronger allies in battle.

• Identified the Pink Wolf Spider’s weakness and directed Flender and Liu Erlong’s attacks against it. 97
• Evaluated Spirit Beast suitability and ring-age risks during several hunts. 7 92 119
• Relies on others for physical protection against high-level threats. 7 97

Seven-in-One Fusion Technique

Yu Xiaogang developed a group technique that combines the strength of seven Soul Masters. 170

• Taught the technique to a Heaven Dou military unit of more than three hundred Soul Masters. 170
• Can enable lower-ranked groups to produce power associated with Martial Soul Avatars. 170
• Its strain limits use to three times per year. 170

Relationships

• Tang San — His sole formal disciple and closest student. Yu Xiaogang treats Tang San as the son he never had; Tang San’s attempt to save him during the third-ring absorption accidentally destroyed Yu Xiaogang’s breakthrough. 6 40 120
• Wang Feng — A would-be disciple who repeatedly rejected Yu Xiaogang. Wang Feng caused his green hair, disproved several of his assumptions, and became a longstanding rival. 2 6 10 119
• Flender — Longtime friend and “old brother.” Flender brought Yu Xiaogang to Shrek, promoted his reputation, and later unintentionally contributed to his failed Spirit Ring absorption. 40 41 120
• Liu Erlong — His wife and mother of the daughter he believed to be his. Their relationship deteriorated as Yu Xiaogang neglected her for political work and Tang San. 170 224 225
• Bibi Dong — Formerly close to Yu Xiaogang and a source of Spirit Hall archival knowledge. Their relationship became openly hostile after he sought information to help Tang Hao’s son, Tang San. 132
• Tang Hao — An admirer who entrusted Tang San to Yu Xiaogang and once asked him to accept Wang Feng as an additional disciple. 12
• Xue Qinghe — Appointed Yu Xiaogang Imperial Preceptor, then publicly dismissed him and orchestrated the destruction of his reputation. 166 313
• Jin Lian — A woman secretly kept by Yu Xiaogang. He believed her pregnancy was his until she revealed that Flender was the child’s father. 213 314

Notable Quotes

“There are no useless martial souls, only useless Soul Masters.” 6 41

“Without my permission, you are not allowed to die.” 40