Xiao Gang

Biodata

Appearance

• A middle-aged man who closely resembles Gangzi; both contrast with the younger-looking Su Chen 1.
• Described as tall when Su Chen’s powerful soul rings make him bend over in shock 5.

Personality

Xiao Gang is proud of his theoretical knowledge and repeatedly claims authority over stronger Soul Masters. He initially dismisses Su Chen as an inexperienced youngster, then continues insisting that theory matters more even after witnessing his extraordinary Martial Soul and soul rings 1 5 25.

His pursuit of disciples is closely tied to personal recognition. Knowing that Tang San is the destined protagonist, he wants to use the boy’s success to validate his theories and make Spirit Hall and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan seek his return. After discovering Xiao Wu’s hundred-thousand-year first ring, he immediately shifts from insulting her to trying to recruit her 1 8.

He is willing to manipulate others to preserve his influence. During Su Chen’s absence, he and Gangzi exploit Tang San’s concern for his father and fear of dying during ring absorption. They also threaten to expose Xiao Wu’s Soul Beast identity when she challenges their plans 14 15.

Although he occasionally recognizes evidence against his assumptions, he rarely sustains that reconsideration. Su Chen’s Golden Sacred Dragon initially earns his admiration, but he subsequently resumes defending fixed absorption limits and treating Su Chen’s achievements as exceptions 4 25 29 34.

Abilities & Skills

Luo Sanpao

Xiao Gang can summon Luo Sanpao, a purple Martial Soul with a dog-like body and pig-like shape 1 15.

• The Sky Screen identifies Luo Sanpao’s true form as the Golden Sacred Dragon, while Su Chen criticizes Xiao Gang’s development methods for wasting that potential 2 3.
• Xiao Gang remains a rank-29 Soul Grandmaster despite being over fifty; no cultivation advancement is documented in the provided chapters 1 4.
• He and Gangzi attack a four-hundred-year Mandala Snake together but are overwhelmed, leaving Tang San to kill it 15.

Martial Soul Analysis

Xiao Gang recognizes that Tang San’s innate full Soul Power is inconsistent with an ordinary Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul and correctly deduces that he possesses a second, high-quality tool Martial Soul 1.

• He bases this deduction on the claim that innate Soul Power is proportional to Martial Soul quality 1.
• Su Chen disputes his explanation for Tang San’s innate full Soul Power, attributing it instead to the Mysterious Heaven Technique 1.
• His theoretical work draws on plagiarized Spirit Hall material rather than wholly original research 1 4.

Soul Ring Selection

Xiao Gang advocates a roughly four-hundred-year Mandala Snake as Tang San’s first ring, citing a first-ring absorption ceiling of 423 years 4.

• Supports the Martial Soul Mimicry Theory: an animal-type ring could give Blue Silver Grass greater toughness and poison, developing Tang San as a control-type Soul Master 4.
• Initially overlooks possible rejection between the plant Martial Soul and an animal-type soul ring 4.
• Fails to account for medicinal preparation and differences between individual constitutions until Su Chen confronts him 16.
• Continues opposing exceptionally old first rings even after seeing Su Chen’s own ten-thousand-year first ring 25 34.

Equipment / Items

• Soul Ring Absorption Handbook — Stolen Spirit Hall research used by Xiao Gang and Gangzi to persuade Tang San against Su Chen’s plan. It lists the 423-year first-ring limit and reported absorption success rates 14.
• Soul Hunting Forest warrant — An entry authorization he presents to Spirit Hall guards while accompanying Tang San on the unauthorized ring hunt 15.

Background / History

Competition for Tang San

At Nuoding Academy, Su Chen assigns the animated Yu Xiaogang the name Xiao Gang and the novel counterpart the name Gangzi so Tang San can distinguish them. Xiao Gang first impresses Tang San by identifying his twin Martial Souls, briefly securing his willingness to become a disciple. Gangzi then wins Tang San over by identifying Tang Hao and promising to strengthen Blue Silver Grass 1.

The two subsequently face Su Chen’s Golden Sacred Dragon, which exposes the disparity between their Luo Sanpaos and his Martial Soul. After Tang San formally accepts Su Chen, Xiao Gang participates in planning his first ring and clashes with Su Chen over the proposal to obtain a ring at least ten thousand years old 1 4.

Conflict over Xiao Wu

Xiao Gang and Gangzi continue claiming Tang San as their shared disciple. At Dorm Seven, they criticize Xiao Wu’s behavior, dismiss her apparent talent, and insult her upbringing. Her red, hundred-thousand-year first soul ring leaves both men kneeling in shock 6 7.

They immediately attempt to recruit her, pushing Tang San aside and promising her better treatment. Xiao Wu instead bows to Su Chen, while Tang San openly tells the pair to abandon their attempt 8.

When Qian Renxue later confronts Su Chen over Tang San, Xiao Gang initially gloats at the prospect of Su Chen facing another Limit Douluo. He and Gangzi then intervene by asserting their own position as Tang San’s teachers, but Qian Renxue knocks them down 9.

Unauthorized First-Ring Hunt

During Su Chen’s absence, Xiao Gang and Gangzi persuade Tang San to visit the Soul Hunting Forest. They use the stolen handbook to reinforce conventional absorption limits and silence Xiao Wu by threatening to reveal her identity to Spirit Hall 14 15.

In the forest, they first secure a hundred-year lone bamboo, then encounter a four-hundred-year Mandala Snake. After Tang San kills the snake, they urge him to absorb its ring. Su Chen arrives before absorption begins, strikes both men, and condemns their attempt to settle Tang San’s future without preparing his body for a stronger ring 15 16.

Following Su Chen’s Preparations

Xiao Gang accompanies the group to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, claiming that he must supervise Su Chen for Tang San’s safety. Su Chen suppresses him and Gangzi when they interrupt the meeting with Dugu Bo. Later, Dugu Bo confines them inside a barrier to prevent interference while Tang San takes Su Chen’s Body-Refining Pill 17 18 20.

After Su Chen returns to Nuoding City, Xiao Gang protests Tang San’s transfer to Spirit Hall Academy. He also tries to disclose Xiao Wu’s hundred-thousand-year ring to the principal, prompting Su Chen to seal both men inside a Soul Power barrier 23 24.

Spirit Hall Academy and the Demon-Eyed Tree

At Spirit Hall Academy, Situ Aoyue rebukes Xiao Gang and Gangzi for plagiarizing Spirit Hall’s theories and recalls their expulsion from Spirit City. They nevertheless insist on accompanying Tang San’s first-ring hunt as supervisors and later object to his match against Hu Liena 25 27.

The pair arrive by carriage as Tang San prepares to absorb a ninety-thousand-year Demon-Eyed Tree ring. They again invoke the 423-year limit and warn that he will die. Wu Tantu knocks them aside, and the Myriad Demon King traps them in the Realm of Desire to prevent further disruption. Tang San subsequently completes absorption in fifty seconds and tells both men the result 34 35.

Relationships

• Tang San — Disciple and intended proof of Xiao Gang’s theories. Tang San’s initial admiration erodes as he recognizes the pair’s manipulation and increasingly trusts Su Chen instead 1 8 16.
• Gangzi — Novel-version counterpart, initially a rival recruiter and later a close collaborator in opposing Su Chen and directing Tang San’s training 1 14 25.
• Su Chen — Transmigrator counterpart and rival teacher. His strength repeatedly contradicts Xiao Gang’s assumptions, while his protection of Tang San undermines Xiao Gang’s influence 1 5 16 29.
• Xiao Wu — An unsuccessful recruitment target whom Xiao Gang first belittles, then flatters after seeing her first ring. He later uses her hidden Soul Beast identity to silence her opposition 6 7 8 14.
• Situ Aoyue — Spirit Hall Academy principal who rejects his claims to authority and openly condemns his plagiarism 25 27.

Notable Quotes

“I have the most authority to speak here. You all have to listen to me.” 4

“Theory is the foundation of everything for a Soul Master. An exception like you doesn't really count.” 25