Su Yuan

Biodata

Background / History

Years before becoming Nod Academy’s headmaster, Su Yuan nearly died in an encounter with an Evil Soul Master. A Soul Emperor possessing an eagle Martial Soul rescued him, declining immediate repayment but asking for a future favor. Several years later, that rescuer asked him to look after Yu Xiaogang. Su Yuan consequently resigned from his department-head position at an intermediate academy and moved to Nuoding City to run Nod Academy 22.

Su Yuan considered providing Yu Xiaogang with accommodation a straightforward way to repay his debt. However, he became disappointed in Yu, particularly his contempt for the celebrated Grandmaster’s research. He described his academy’s results matter-of-factly: a few students entered intermediate academies each year, while a candidate suitable for an advanced academy appeared only once every five or six years 22.

Appearance

Su Yuan is a bespectacled, scholarly-looking man in his forties. Even dressed for a Soul Beast hunt, he retains the air of an academic—a contrast to his Firebird Martial Soul’s explosive offensive power 22.

• Glasses: Frequently adjusts or pushes them up during conversation 22 25.
• Martial Soul Possession: Scale-like feathers emerge across his exposed skin 26.
• Wings of Fire: Enormous wings spread from his back when he activates his second Soul Skill 26.

Personality

Usually refined and easygoing, Su Yuan is conscientious about repaying debts and pragmatic about his professional circumstances. He readily acknowledges Nod Academy’s limited results and does not pretend to be close to Yu Xiaogang merely because he houses him 22.

Despite rejecting Yu’s contradictory Martial Soul theories, Su Yuan agrees with his concern for preserving Soul Beasts. After watching Tang Shan and Su Yuntao slaughter weak beasts, he questions whether they should leave some alive for future Soul Masters. He deliberately softens his wording when addressing Tang Shan, believing a child should be corrected without unnecessary harshness 25.

His scholarly composure can disappear in combat. When a Thousand-Year Qianjun Ant ignores him and continues toward the group’s food, he becomes visibly irritated and attacks forcefully 26.

Abilities & Skills

Firebird Martial Soul

Su Yuan’s Firebird supports fire-based offense and aerial movement. Its explosive power belies his scholarly appearance 22 26.

• Martial Soul Possession: Produces feather-like scales and releases powerful Soul Power fluctuations 26.
• Flame projection: He can spit an expanding mass of flame without activating a Soul Ring skill; this is an application he developed himself 26.
• Demonstrated limit: His initial flames engulf the Thousand-Year Qianjun Ant but fail to overcome its shell 26.

First Soul Skill: Flame Burst

• Increases his fire attribute by 50% 26.

Second Soul Skill: Wings of Fire

• Grants flight through wings extending from his back 26.
• Increases all attributes by 15% 26.

Third Soul Skill: Fireball

• Gathers flames into a fireball, then compresses and detonates them for a powerful attack 26.
• Against the Qianjun Ant, he expands the fireball to roughly half a meter across before compressing it into a white, fist-sized projectile 26.
• Severely injures the ant, allowing Tang Shan to deliver the killing blows 26.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Thousand-Year Soul Ring Hunt

• Additional protection: Su Haichao recruits Su Yuan to help obtain Thousand-Year Soul Rings for Tang Shan and Su Yuntao 22.
• Grandmaster’s supposed disciple: Su Yuan initially doubts Tang Shan’s thousand-year first-ring plan. After Su Haichao connects it to Grandmaster’s published theories, he accepts that Tang Shan is Grandmaster’s disciple and encourages the attempt 22.
• Rear guard: Guards the party’s rear in the Soul Hunting Forest near Starlight City while Su Haichao leads 24.
• Qianjun Ant battle: Takes responsibility for attacking the ant while Su Haichao monitors the surroundings; his Fireball makes the beast vulnerable to Tang Shan’s finishing attack 26.
• Witness to the breakthrough: Watches Tang Shan successfully absorb his first Thousand-Year Soul Ring and praises his steadiness. The subsequent skill demonstration convinces him that Body Martial Souls possess remarkable offensive and defensive potential 27.
• Further observation: Watches the brothers confront a Bloodthirsty Wolf and remarks on Tang Shan’s unusually effective Soul Skill 28.
• Departure: Leaves the returning party early because of urgent academy business 29.

Relationships

• Su Haichao — Longstanding acquaintance and fellow Soul Ancestor. They discuss academy affairs and cooperate in protecting the brothers during their hunt 22 24 26.
• Tang Shan — Young hunting companion whom he believes to be Grandmaster’s disciple. His respect grows through Tang Shan’s analysis, combat ability, and first-ring breakthrough; he eventually calls him “Shanzi” 22 25 26 27.
• Su Yuntao — Hunting companion whose trained physique and combat performance impress him 25 28.
• Yu Xiaogang — Resident under his care as repayment of a debt. Su Yuan criticizes his theories but agrees with his position on protecting Soul Beasts 22 25.
• Unnamed eagle-Martial-Soul Soul Emperor — Rescuer whose request prompted Su Yuan’s move to Nod Academy. Tang Shan suspects this man is Shrek Academy’s headmaster, but the identification is not confirmed 22.