Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Yu Xiaogang spent decades studying martial souls and became widely known for publishing the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul. Dai Mubai initially respects him because of this reputation, despite his comparatively low cultivation 1 3.

He previously traveled with Flender and belongs to the Golden Iron Triangle. Their friendship also carries an old rivalry involving Liu Erlong: Flender remembers losing ground to Xiaogang in their competition for her attention 2 11 25.

His theoretical work draws heavily on Spirit Hall’s library. He privately recalls using his relationship with Bibi Dong to obtain access to its contents. After losing a wager to Yang Jian, he is described as admitting that his theories were plagiarized from the library and altered beyond recognition 22 30.

Flender invites him to Shrek earlier than originally scheduled because of Yang Jian’s presence. Xiaogang arrives with Tang San and takes on an instructional role, but his attempt to dictate Yang Jian’s cultivation immediately provokes conflict 1 3 7.

Appearance

• Middle-aged man, contrasted with the young Yang Jian during their first argument 1.
• Frequently clasps his hands behind his back while adopting a solemn, authoritative teaching posture 1 15 30.
• His face flushes and its veins bulge when his expertise is challenged 15.

Personality

Xiaogang is deeply concerned with prestige and saving face. He expects his reputation as Grandmaster to command obedience, takes pride in Tang San’s exceptional talent, and reacts bitterly when Flender or the students place their trust in Yang Jian instead. Public humiliation repeatedly drives him to cough up blood or faint 1 3 11 37.

His apparent concern for Yang Jian conceals a desire to control him. He plans to begin with an apology, force successive concessions, and eventually make Yang Jian submit completely. During their soul-ring wager, he anticipates both Yang Jian’s death and the opportunity to acquire his valuable soul bone 6 17.

He advocates caution and conserving strength, but his conduct alienates companions who see him withholding help while criticizing those who fight. When competing through Tang San’s talent proves ineffective, he turns to the prospect of gaining Tang Hao’s backing through his disciple 13 25 30.

Abilities & Skills

Luo Sanpao

Luo Sanpao is an externally manifested beast martial soul whose superficial similarity to Xiaotian forms the basis of Xiaogang’s attempted instruction 1.

• Appears as a purple pig, unlike Yang Jian’s golden puppy 1.
• Uses flatulence-based attacks, inspiring Yang Jian’s “Fart God” nickname 6.
• According to Xiaogang, feeding Luo Sanpao radishes reduces soul-power consumption and strengthens its soul skills 1.
• Xiaogang describes it as a mutation of the “world’s greatest beast martial soul” and says it cannot consume the dragon flesh and blood fed to Xiaotian 4.

Martial Soul and Soul Beast Theory

Xiaogang possesses enough theoretical reputation to influence Flender’s cultivation decisions, but several prominent assessments are contradicted or exposed as unsupported 5 6 22.

Instruction and Manipulation

Xiaogang reinforces Tang San’s loyalty through praise, appeals to his twin martial souls and innate full soul power, and speeches about overcoming setbacks 3 30.

• Encourages Tang San to surpass Yang Jian as a means of restoring his own standing 3.
• Uses warnings about Yang Jian’s cultivation to pressure Flender into seeking his help 5.
• Privately treats keeping Tang San satisfied as a route to support from Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao 30.

Relationships

• Tang San — Personal disciple and principal defender. Tang San catches him when he collapses, follows his instructions, and shields him during confrontations. Xiaogang eventually values their connection as a means of securing Tang Hao’s backing 1 3 17 30.
• Flender — Old friend, sworn brother, and former romantic rival. Flender initially trusts his expertise but becomes increasingly disturbed by his hostility toward Yang Jian 2 5 16 17 25.
• Yang Jian — Adversary whose cultivation repeatedly contradicts Xiaogang’s claims. Their conflict culminates in a written wager and the exposure of Xiaogang’s plagiarized theories 1 6 17 22.
• Ning Rongrong — Open critic who mocks his conduct, challenges his right to belittle Yang Jian, and threatens to publicize the wager if he evades its consequences 16 37.
• Dai Mubai — Initially admires his reputation, then loses respect after witnessing his treatment of Yang Jian and his attempt to obtain the soul bone through a wager 1 5 16.
• Xiao Wu — Stays beside Xiaogang and Tang San during the expedition, although his refusal to let her assist in battle leaves her resentful 13 17.
• Bibi Dong — His past relationship with her enabled access to Spirit Hall’s library, according to his own recollection 30.
• Liu Erlong — Connected to his earlier rivalry with Flender. Flender also wonders whether her attention once supplied the confidence Xiaogang now lacks 2 25.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Conflict at Shrek

• Xiaogang insists that Xiaotian should follow Luo Sanpao’s radish-based diet. Yang Jian rejects the comparison and publicly attacks both his authority and his low cultivation 1.
• His anger becomes a major source of rewards for Yang Jian’s emotion system, granting soul power, increased ring ages, and dragon-related resources 1 2 3.
• After collapsing from rage, he urges Tang San to surpass Yang Jian. Flender then reveals that Yang Jian was already level thirty-six at twelve, undermining Xiaogang’s attempt to establish Tang San’s superiority 1 3.

Star Dou Great Forest Expedition

• Xiaogang attempts to persuade Flender that Yang Jian’s feeding method has damaged his future, offering assistance only if Yang Jian changes course and apologizes 4 5 6.
• During the Wolf King battle, he resents Flender entrusting Yang Jian with the students’ retreat. His own withdrawal order receives no response 11 12.
• He prevents Tang San and Xiao Wu from joining the attack, then lectures the exhausted fighters about conserving strength 13.
• His shock at Yang Jian’s enhanced rings generates further system rewards, including an increased age for the next dropped soul bone and a trace of draconic nature for Yang Jian’s first martial soul 13.

Soul-Ring Wager

• After Xiaotian blocks his approach to the dropped head soul bone, Xiaogang disputes Yang Jian’s plan to absorb the Wolf King’s ring 14 15.
• He initially offers to apologize and admit inferiority if Yang Jian succeeds, demanding the soul bone if he fails. The two subsequently negotiate a written agreement distributed among the witnesses 16 17.
• Believing Yang Jian doomed, he laughs when absorption begins and later offers Flender an insincere expression of sympathy 17.
• Yang Jian successfully absorbs the ring. A later passage records Xiaogang’s forced admission that his theories were plagiarized, destroying the basis of his authority among the students 18 22.

Declining Influence

• During the confrontation with the Peerless Dragon Snake, Xiaogang urges retreat and condemns Yang Jian for endangering the group. Flender questions how his old companion has become so fearful 24 25.
• After Dragon Duke Meng Shu’s death, the group—including Flender—initially refuses to answer Xiaogang’s questions 27 28.
• Xiaogang regains confidence by deciding to rely on Tang Hao rather than competing through Tang San’s talent. He disguises this calculation as a lesson about resilience 30.
• Ning Rongrong later provokes another collapse by reminding him of the wager. When Tang San injures Flender with a Dragon Whisker Needle, Xiaogang orders an apology and removal of the weapon, though Tang San senses that his teacher is privately more pleased than angry 37.

Notable Quotes

“My disciple will surely surpass every other disciple in this world!” 3

“A Soul Ancestor at fifteen, a Soul Emperor for life. Wouldn't you say that's an absolute tragedy?” 4

“We Soul Masters may encounter setbacks, and we may even be knocked down by them, but we must never fail to rise again!” 30