Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Yu Xiaogang (玉小刚) 3
Alias(es)	Master; Grandmaster 3
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Notting Academy — honorary advisor 3
Occupation/Role	Martial-soul theorist and Tang San's master 3
Status	Active; escaped with Tang San after Light Feather Douluo overwhelmed the Shrek group 37
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Background / History

Yu Xiaogang was already Tang San's master when Notting Academy learned that Xu Peinian possessed Innate Full Soul Power and the Netherworld Blade. Seeing another exceptional prospect, he approached Xu with Tang San, identified himself as the academy's honorary advisor, and offered to examine the boy's martial soul before potentially accepting him as a disciple. Xu rejected him and publicly challenged his lack of cultivation experience, forcing Yu Xiaogang to leave in humiliation when teachers and students gathered around them. 3

He later took Tang San into Soul Hunting Forest to obtain a first soul ring. Although he initially promised a ring of at least one hundred years, a prolonged and secretly manipulated search left the pair with a roughly twenty-year Slug. Yu Xiaogang ordered Tang San to absorb its white ring, citing his Martial Soul Mimicry Theory to argue that a plant martial soul could absorb an animal-type ring. 5 6

Tang Hao attacked Yu Xiaogang after witnessing the choice. Yu Xiaogang survived by arguing that the Slug's soft and elastic qualities would prepare Tang San's Blue Silver Grass and Clear Sky Hammer for stronger future rings. Tang Hao accepted the explanation, entrusted Tang San to him, and gave him a six-symbol Spirit Hall token. 7

For Tang San's second ring, Yu Xiaogang planned to hunt a Ghost Vine in Star Dou Forest. When Tang San encountered the rare Heaven-Devouring Demon Toad, Yu Xiaogang concealed that he did not recognize it, then allowed greed to override his uncertainty and joined the hunt. The creature's pink mist incapacitated him and the others; afterward, he and the Notting Academy dean concealed what happened from Tang San. 18 19 21

Yu Xiaogang later joined Flender in confronting Xu Peinian after Xu defeated the Shrek students outside Suotuo City. Light Feather Douluo's pressure immediately forced him to the ground, and Tang Hao ultimately rescued him and Tang San during the retreat. 36 37

Appearance

Yu Xiaogang is a middle-aged man with a stiff, melancholy expression. At Notting Academy, he wears a black student uniform and is described with a crew cut and visible stubble. 3

• Stiff facial features that visibly flush or tighten when his authority is challenged. 3
• Often maintains a stern, composed façade even while injured or embarrassed. 7 21
• His posture becomes noticeably pigeon-toed after Tang Hao's attack in Soul Hunting Forest. 7 18

Personality

Yu Xiaogang is proud of his theoretical reputation and expects deference from younger Soul Masters. Xu Peinian's criticism of his cultivation level provokes immediate anger, especially when Tang San briefly appears doubtful of him. 3

He is also deeply insecure about gaps in his knowledge. When Tang San asks about the Heaven-Devouring Demon Toad, Yu Xiaogang pretends familiarity rather than admit ignorance; he later becomes disturbed by the possibility that someone has been orchestrating his and Tang San's misfortunes. 18 19 22

Under pressure, he can be persuasive and quick-thinking. Faced with Tang Hao's wrath, he reframed Tang San's weak first ring as a deliberate foundation-building choice and successfully restored Tang Hao's trust. 7

Abilities & Skills

Luo Sanpao

Yu Xiaogang's martial soul, Luo Sanpao, is a malignant mutation that separated from his body rather than manifesting through normal beast-spirit possession. 5

• Can be summoned to scout ahead and sniff out nearby soul beasts. 5
• Appears as a plump, purple-skinned creature with a head bump, resembling a small dog or pig. 5
• Its malformed appearance is a source of embarrassment for Yu Xiaogang. 5

Martial-Soul Theory and Teaching

Yu Xiaogang presents himself as an authority on martial-soul theory and uses that reputation to guide Tang San's cultivation. 3

• Advocates the Martial Soul Mimicry Theory, claiming plant martial souls can absorb beast-type soul rings. 6
• Explains basic soul-beast types, soul-ring ages, and martial-soul mutations to Tang San. 5 6
• Proposed that Tang San's Blue Silver Grass should serve as a foundation for the later development of the Clear Sky Hammer. 6 7
• His practical judgment is repeatedly undermined by the twenty-year Slug ring and his ignorance of the Heaven-Devouring Demon Toad. 6 18 19

Persuasion

Yu Xiaogang can maintain authority through confident rhetoric even when his decisions are questioned.

• Convinced Tang Hao that Tang San's Slug soul ring was a strategic choice rather than a failure. 7
• Invoked his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan background and former connection to Bibi Dong to support his credibility. 7
• Regularly reassures Tang San and redirects difficult questions to preserve his image as a dependable teacher. 7 18 21

Equipment / Items

• Six-symbol Spirit Hall token — given to Yu Xiaogang by Tang Hao after Tang Hao entrusted Tang San's care to him. 7

Relationships

• Tang San — Direct disciple. Tang San remains loyal to Yu Xiaogang and follows his soul-ring guidance despite repeated setbacks. 3 6 18 21
• Xu Peinian — Failed recruitment target and hostile former Notting Academy student. Xu publicly rejected Yu Xiaogang's mentorship and later engineered circumstances that sabotaged Tang San's soul-ring hunts. 3 6 18 36
• Tang Hao — Tang San's father. Tang Hao initially attacked Yu Xiaogang over the Slug soul ring, then accepted his explanation and entrusted Tang San to him. 7
• Flender — Allied elder who arrived with Yu Xiaogang after the Shrek students were defeated by Xu Peinian. 36 37
• Notting Academy principal — Accompanied Yu Xiaogang and Tang San during the hunt for Tang San's second soul ring. 18 19 21
• Luo Sanpao — His malignantly mutated martial soul and forest scout. 5

Notable Quotes

“In this world, when it comes to martial soul theory alone, if I, Yu Xiaogang, dare call myself second, then no one would dare call themselves first.” 3

“Xiao San, there's no other way. Soul Hunting Forest isn't large to begin with, and there are too few soul beasts to choose from. On top of that, we've had some bad luck. We can only go back and absorb that twenty-year Slug.” 6