Gangzi

Biodata

Power Progression

Background

Gangzi is the original novel’s version of Yu Xiaogang, distinct from Xiao Gang, the animated version, and Su Chen, a transmigrator who became another Yu Xiaogang. All three appear before Tang San at Nuoding Academy. Su Chen proposes separate names to distinguish them, and the novel’s Yu Xiaogang accepts “Gangzi” as an endearing nickname 1.

Gangzi regards Tang San as an opportunity to validate his theories and restore his standing with Spirit Hall and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. During their first meeting, he identifies Tang Hao as Tang San’s father and correctly guesses that Tang San’s hidden Martial Soul is a hammer. His promise to strengthen Blue Silver Grass persuades Tang San to address him as “Teacher Gangzi” 1.

Appearance

• Middle-aged man: Closely resembles Xiao Gang, the animated Yu Xiaogang 1.
• Older counterpart to Su Chen: Gangzi and Xiao Gang contrast with Su Chen’s youthful appearance; academy students openly compare the two older men unfavorably with him 1 6.

Personality

Gangzi is proud of his theoretical knowledge and reluctant to accept evidence that challenges it. He initially dismisses Su Chen as an inexperienced youngster, then continues asserting his superiority in theory after seeing Su Chen’s Golden Sacred Dragon and extraordinary Soul Rings. His recommendations prioritize conventional safety limits, particularly the belief that a first Soul Ring cannot exceed 423 years 1 4 5 14.

His attachment to talented disciples is closely tied to recognition. After Xiao Wu reveals a hundred-thousand-year first Soul Ring, he immediately changes from insulting her to flattering her, pushing Tang San aside in an attempt to recruit her. He also uses emotional pressure and threats to secure compliance: he invokes Tang Hao’s potential grief to influence Tang San and threatens to expose Xiao Wu’s identity to silence her objections 8 14.

Despite occasional doubts about his theories, Gangzi repeatedly returns to opposing Su Chen. Even after witnessing divine strength, he insists that Tang San’s planned first Soul Ring violates accepted limits 29 34.

Abilities & Skills

Luo Sanpao

Gangzi possesses Luo Sanpao, an external beast Martial Soul 1 3.

• Appearance: Purple, with a dog-like body and pig-like shape 15.
• Demonstrated attack: Severely injures a hundred-year lone bamboo so Tang San can deliver the finishing blow 15.
• Combat limitation: Gangzi and Xiao Gang together fail to defeat a four-hundred-year Mandala Snake, leaving Tang San to kill it himself 15.
• Unrealized potential: Su Chen states that Luo Sanpao can evolve into a Golden Sacred Dragon. Gangzi becomes eager to obtain the method, but does not achieve that evolution in the documented events 3.

Martial Soul Theory

Gangzi uses theoretical knowledge to recruit and advise disciples, although Su Chen challenges both its originality and its practical value 1.

• Initial recruitment argument: Offers to strengthen Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass through Martial Soul mimicry theory 1.
• Later recommendation: Argues that a plant-type Martial Soul should absorb a plant-type Soul Ring to avoid rejection, contradicting his earlier support for cross-type mimicry 4.
• Conservative ring selection: Initially proposes Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo, emphasizing suitability rather than age 4.
• Research material: Uses the stolen Soul Ring Absorption Handbook to present the 423-year first-ring limit as authoritative 14.
• Knowledge gaps: Fails to account for strengthening a disciple’s physique and spiritual power with medicinal treasures until Su Chen raises the possibility 16.

Equipment / Items

• Spirit Hall warrant — Produces a warrant alongside Xiao Gang to gain entry to the Soul Hunting Forest 15.
• Soul Ring Absorption Handbook — Stolen Spirit Hall research used to discourage Tang San from attempting a ten-thousand-year first Soul Ring. It records absorption success rates and a proposed maximum age of 423 years 14.

Relationships

• Tang San — Disciple. Initially wins his trust by identifying his family and hidden Martial Soul, but later treats him as a means of proving his theories. Tang San gradually recognizes this and places greater trust in Su Chen 1 8 16.
• Xiao Gang — Animated counterpart, rival theorist, and frequent collaborator. They disagree over suitable Soul Beasts but cooperate to counter Su Chen’s influence over Tang San 1 4 14.
• Su Chen — Rival teacher and alternate Yu Xiaogang. Gangzi covets his evolution method, disputes his teaching decisions, and hopes his defeat will leave Tang San available to him 3 9.
• Xiao Wu — Failed recruitment target. Gangzi first insults her, then seeks her as a disciple after seeing her Soul Ring, and later threatens to reveal her identity to Spirit Hall 6 8 14.
• Yu Yuanzhen — Father. Gangzi imagines that evolving Luo Sanpao into a Golden Sacred Dragon would make Yu Yuanzhen beg him to return to the clan 3.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Rivalry at Nuoding Academy

• Loses Tang San’s confidence to Su Chen: Su Chen’s Golden Sacred Dragon and nine powerful Soul Rings overshadow Gangzi’s theoretical promises. Tang San formally requests to become Su Chen’s disciple 1 3 5.
• Misjudges Xiao Wu: Gangzi dismisses her apparent Soul Power and Martial Soul, only to drop to his knees when she reveals a hundred-thousand-year ring. His subsequent recruitment attempt fails when she chooses Su Chen 6 7 8.
• Qian Renxue’s arrival: Initially gloats that Su Chen has met his match, then joins Xiao Gang in claiming the right to protect Tang San. Their intervention ends in humiliation and withdrawal 9.

Unauthorized Soul Ring Hunt

During Su Chen’s absence, Gangzi and Xiao Gang decide to obtain Tang San’s first Soul Ring before he returns, making the choice irreversible. They undermine Tang San’s resolve with warnings of death, stolen research, and appeals to his father’s feelings. Xiao Wu’s objections are suppressed by threatening to expose her as a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast 14.

In the Soul Hunting Forest, Gangzi selects a hundred-year lone bamboo. After a Mandala Snake appears, both teachers fail to subdue it, and Tang San kills it himself. They urge him to absorb the snake’s ring, but Su Chen arrives before absorption begins and strikes them both 15.

Su Chen subsequently rebukes their lack of preparation and reliance on fixed limits. Gangzi continues defending his choices, while Tang San realizes that the two teachers are using him to validate their theories 16.

Immortal Herbs and Spirit Hall Academy

• Follows Su Chen to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well: Insists on accompanying Tang San to supervise his safety, but is repeatedly restrained when he interferes 17 18.
• Blocked from disrupting preparation: Dugu Bo confines Gangzi and Xiao Gang behind a barrier while Tang San takes Su Chen’s Body-Refining Pill 20.
• Opposes the academy transfer: Questions Tang San’s visit to Spirit City and warns against revealing the Clear Sky Hammer. He is confused by changes to history that have removed the feud he remembers 23.
• Attempts to disclose Xiao Wu’s ring: Tells Nuoding’s principal about her hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring; Su Chen silences both counterparts with a Soul Power barrier 24.
• Seeks status at Spirit Hall Academy: Expects Tang San’s enrollment to secure a senior teaching position, but receives no such appointment. He also demands to accompany the planned Soul Ring hunt 25.
• Objects to Tang San’s duel: Tries to stop the fight against Hu Liena, claiming Su Chen is endangering Tang San. Situ Aoyue pulls him and Xiao Gang aside 27.

Ninety-Thousand-Year First Soul Ring

Gangzi again protests when Tang San prepares to absorb a ninety-thousand-year Demon-Eyed Tree ring. He repeats the 423-year limit even after Su Chen displays his own ten-thousand-year first ring. Wu Tantu pushes the two teachers away, and the Myriad Demon King traps them in the Realm of Desire to prevent further interference as absorption begins 34.

Notable Quotes

“We can't blindly pursue age and forget the theoretical principle of suitability.”
— Defending his recommendation of Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo 4

“Once you're dead, Tang San will be my disciple.”
— Watching Su Chen confront Qian Renxue 9

“The absorption limit for the First Soul Ring is four hundred and twenty-three years!”
— Protesting Tang San’s ninety-thousand-year ring 34