Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Background / History

Standing before the Star Dou expedition

Yu Xiaogang is a Martial Soul researcher known as Grandmaster and the teacher of Tang San. At Shrek Academy, Tang San and the other students initially regard his theoretical knowledge with considerable respect. He bases his explanations on his years of research into the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul 3.

He is also the Golden Iron Triangle’s Horn of Wisdom, alongside Flender and Liu Erlong, and a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Tang Hao previously entrusted Tang San to him because of his theoretical ability and gave him a Spirit Hall Elder Token 5 14.

Investigating the forest disturbances

After a major earthquake, Yu Xiaogang rejects the possibility that an enormous living creature caused it. Invoking conservation of energy, he argues that such a beast would already have exhausted Star Dou Great Forest’s resources. He instead proposes that crustal movement exposed ancient ruins or activated a lost formation 3.

He encourages Shrek Academy to investigate, combining the expedition with the students’ need for new Soul Rings. Beyond obtaining treasure, he hopes the discovery will prove to the world that he is not a failure 3.

During the journey, he interprets fallen trees, converging Soul Power, and kneeling Soul Beasts as evidence supporting his formation theory. Even when Tang San’s observations exceed his understanding, he maintains an air of certainty rather than admit doubt before his students 4 5.

Humiliation at the abyss

At Spirit Hall’s cordon, Yu Xiaogang uses his Elder Token to pass the guards. Believing his expertise will secure Shrek a share of the supposed ruins’ treasures, he lectures Bibi Dong and the assembled Titled Douluo about attacking formations with brute force 5.

His Rank 29 Soul Power vanishes immediately upon touching the exposed dark-gold scale. He mistakes this for an array absorbing external energy. He then identifies the flowing golden liquid below as an energy source and proposes cutting off its flow 5.

Golden Crocodile Douluo forces him to recognize that the liquid is blood inside a living creature’s blood vessel. Feeling its heat and the bloodline pressure suppressing Luo Sanpao, Yu Xiaogang briefly accepts the truth and wets himself in terror. He survives the subsequent blast because Golden Crocodile Douluo happens to stand in front of him 5 6.

Bibi Dong orders him expelled. Returned to Shrek’s group in a muddy, shaken state, he repeatedly tells them that the thing underground is alive and that it was not a formation 6.

The failed Golden Iron Triangle assault

After recovering enough to regroup, Yu Xiaogang returns to his original explanation. He insists that the golden liquid is an ancient ruin’s power source; even if a beast exists below, he argues, it must be dying and trapped by an array 8.

He summons Liu Erlong and has Tang San recruit Dragon Duke Meng Shu and Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang. The couple are offered a share of any Soul Bones from what he describes as an injured, dying top-level Soul Beast. With their support and the Golden Iron Triangle reunited, he expects to seize the underground treasure and restore his reputation 8.

When they encounter the forest’s defending beasts, Meng Shu rejects his plan to lure away the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python. Yu Xiaogang nevertheless joins Flender and Liu Erlong in summoning the Golden Sacred Dragon, intending to create an opening for Tang San 9.

The fusion skill is shattered almost immediately. All three participants suffer backlash, with Yu Xiaogang bleeding from all seven orifices and convulsing on the ground. Their concealment is destroyed, and the Titan Giant Ape takes Xiao Wu away to protect her from the danger surrounding the underground being 9.

Tang San interprets Xiao Wu’s removal as a likely death sentence and blames Yu Xiaogang’s arrogance. Confronted by his disciple, Yu Xiaogang cannot offer an explanation. Flender likewise recognizes that the expedition nearly killed Shrek’s students 9.

Tang Hao’s retaliation

While recuperating at an inn, Yu Xiaogang calls Tang San ungrateful for severing ties with him and dismisses the expedition’s failure as “one tiny theoretical mistake.” Tang Hao arrives after hearing this and accuses him of using Tang San’s life to test worthless theories 14.

Tang Hao seizes him by the throat, knocks out half his teeth with a slap, and kicks him in the stomach. Liu Erlong’s attempt to intervene is defeated, while Flender pleads for his life. Tang Hao ultimately spares Yu Xiaogang because he had previously put effort into teaching Tang San 14 15.

Refugee relief and the collapse of his theories

After Heaven Dou Imperial City is destroyed, Yu Xiaogang accompanies Shrek’s staff as they escort refugees south and search for Tang Hao and Tang San. He recognizes the severely injured Tang San on a mudbank and reacts with visible distress 23.

Flender credits Yu Xiaogang with ordering the refugees to higher ground before rising boiling water could drown them. His explanation for the disaster, however, remains mistaken: he attributes the earthquakes and heat to a powerful transformed Soul Beast drawing energy from the mantle 24.

When Tang San explains that the heat comes directly from an enormous dragon’s body, Yu Xiaogang instead identifies the supposed whisker as an Earthcore Demonic Vine, claiming its roots conduct heat upward from the planetary core. The planet-wide gravitational disturbance leaves him unable to reconcile events with his theories 24.

During the continent’s breakup, Liu Erlong saves him from a falling stone slab and drags him into shelter. He continues muttering about gravitational formulas and conservation of Soul Power. Only when the dark-gold dragon becomes visible across the sky does he finally recognize it as a dragon rather than a formation or plant-type beast 25 26.

Appearance

• Wears square-framed glasses in the later refugee-camp scenes 24.
• Habitually clasps his hands behind his back and adopts an inscrutable expression when explaining his theories 3 4 9.
• Remains pale during his recovery from the failed fusion skill and subsequent injuries 12 14.

Personality

Yu Xiaogang takes great pride in his reputation as a theorist. He enjoys his students’ admiration and the deference his Elder Token commands, and repeatedly introduces himself as the continent’s foremost theoretical expert. His desire to escape the reputation of being a good-for-nothing helps drive the treasure expedition 3 5.

His chief failing is his refusal to distinguish confidence from evidence. Observations that contradict his expectations are repeatedly reinterpreted as proof that he was right. Even after personally acknowledging the creature’s blood, he retreats to the formation explanation once the immediate terror passes 4 5 6 8.

He is also deeply sensitive to humiliation. Following the abyss incident, he imagines obtaining treasure that will make the continent revere him and allow him to confront Golden Crocodile Douluo. After Tang San rejects him, he initially focuses on his disciple’s supposed ingratitude rather than the danger his decisions created 8 14.

His concern for Tang San nevertheless persists. On finding him with ruined arms, Yu Xiaogang rushes to his side with reddened eyes and a trembling voice; later, he brings him cooled herbal medicine 23 24.

Abilities & Skills

Martial Soul Theory

• Uses the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul as the foundation of his teaching and deductions 3 9.
• Combines observations of terrain, Soul Power movement, and Soul Beast behavior with references to ancient records and geology 4 24.
• Repeatedly misidentifies the dragon’s anatomy and bodily activity as formations, energy sources, or plant growth 5 8 24.
• His evacuation advice helps protect the refugee camp despite his incorrect explanation for the disaster 24.

Luo Sanpao and Soul Power

• Possesses the Martial Soul Luo Sanpao and Rank 29 Soul Power 5.
• Can extend Soul Power outward to investigate a target, but his probe disappears immediately against the dragon’s scale 5.
• Luo Sanpao experiences overwhelming bloodline suppression from the creature’s blood 5.

Golden Sacred Dragon

• A three-person Martial Soul Fusion Skill performed with Flender and Liu Erlong 9.
• Produces a golden-scaled dragon phantom more than thirty meters long 9.
• Yu Xiaogang directs its attack while occupying the fusion formation’s core 9.
• Its destruction inflicts severe backlash on all three participants; Yu Xiaogang suffers especially heavily 9.

Equipment / Items

• Spirit Hall Elder Token — A black token given to him by Tang Hao. It allows him to claim honorary elder standing and pass Spirit Hall’s outer cordon 5.
• Notebook — Used to record unusual Soul Beast behavior during the forest expedition 5.
• Monocular magnifying lens — A tool for exploring ruins, used to inspect a groove in the exposed dark-gold scale 5.

Relationships

• Tang San — Disciple who initially treats his judgments as authoritative. The failed expedition destroys that trust, although Yu Xiaogang later helps care for him after their reunion 3 9 12 14 23 24.
• Flender — Golden Iron Triangle partner and expedition companion. He questions the danger, becomes disappointed after the fusion’s defeat, but continues tending to Yu Xiaogang and pleads with Tang Hao to spare him 8 9 12 14.
• Liu Erlong — Golden Iron Triangle partner who loves and fiercely defends him. She challenges critics of his wisdom, attacks Tang Hao to protect him, and later saves him from falling debris 9 14 25.
• Bibi Dong — A woman who once loved him. He assumes that affection guarantees favorable treatment, but his conduct at the abyss extinguishes her remaining attachment, and she orders him removed 5 6.
• Tang Hao — Former supporter who entrusted Tang San to him and supplied his Elder Token. He later brutally punishes Yu Xiaogang for endangering his son, but stops short of killing him 5 14 15.
• Golden Crocodile Douluo — Exposes his mistaken interpretation of the dragon’s blood vessel and humiliates him. His position during the blast incidentally saves Yu Xiaogang’s life 5 6.
• Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang — Recruited through promises of treasure and Soul Bones. They reject his proposed confrontation with the forest overlords and leave after the fusion skill’s defeat 8 9.

Notable Quotes

“I have absolute confidence in my theories.” 5

“It wasn't a formation. It wasn't a formation at all... It's all blood down there! Alive! That thing is alive!” 6

“Wasn't it just one tiny theoretical mistake?” 14

“A dragon...” 26