Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Clan Origins and Spirit Hall

Yu Xiaogang is the youngest son of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan leader. His half-rank innate Soul Power and unusual Martial Soul earned him a reputation as the clan’s shame. Although he eventually reached rank twenty-nine, he could not advance further 1 2 16.

Seeking a breakthrough, he joined Spirit Hall and studied its records. He published numerous Martial Soul theories and earned the title of Grandmaster. Qian Xunji later struck him from Spirit Hall’s rolls, and his experiences there left him deeply distrustful of the organization 16 17.

By Yu Xiaochuan’s arrival in Nuoding City, Yu Xiaogang was living at Nuoding Academy. He rarely returned to his clan, although he made an exception to accompany his favorite nephew, Yu Tianheng, at his awakening ceremony 2 13.

Attempts to Adopt Yu Xiaochuan

At the ceremony, Yu Xiaogang encountered Yu Xiaochuan, whose external beast Martial Soul and half-rank innate Soul Power closely resembled his own circumstances. The clan leader proposed that Xiaogang adopt the child and educate him as a future theorist. Xiaogang agreed, hoping to have a descendant who would care for him in old age, but Xiaochuan declined 1 2.

Despite the refusal, Xiaogang gave Xiaochuan his compiled Soul Power circulation route and offered advice on selecting plant Soul Rings. When Xiaochuan later enrolled at Nuoding Academy, Xiaogang renewed the adoption proposal, promising to transmit all his knowledge. A second, blunter rejection angered him, and he initially told the boy to study independently 2 13.

His anger did not last. Concerned that Xiaochuan was neglecting his education, he checked on him and opened his personal book collection to the child. Xiaochuan finished reading it in a month 15.

Conflict over Joining Spirit Hall

When Xiaochuan decided to join Spirit Hall, Xiaogang tried to stop him. He condemned the organization and asserted that Caterpie’s potential was exhausted, making rank nine the boy’s permanent limit. Xiaochuan rejected that judgment and challenged him to a duel 17.

Xiaogang accepted on the condition that, if he won, Xiaochuan would abandon Spirit Hall and acknowledge him as his adoptive father. Xiaochuan’s condition was that victory would sever their ties and cancel the favor owed for borrowing his books 17.

During the duel, Caterpie evaded Luo Sanpao’s first blast and trapped him with Electroweb. Xiaogang spent a second blast breaking the restraint, then directed the final attack at Xiaochuan himself. Xiaochuan used Martial Soul Possession to dodge, closed the distance, and struck both sides of Xiaogang’s waist with Bug Bite. Exhausted and in pain, Xiaogang fell to his knees and lost 18 19.

Afterward, the academy dean comforted him and encouraged him to let Xiaochuan seek opportunities elsewhere. Xiaogang remained doubtful that the boy could overcome his limitations, but regretted losing the chance to have him as either an adopted son or a disciple. He also declined the dean’s offer of a teaching position 19.

Appearance

• Ordinary appearance: Described as ordinary-looking, particularly in contrast with Yu Xiaochuan 2 18.
• Stiff expression: His face is repeatedly characterized as stiff, though it softens when he looks at Luo Sanpao 1 18.
• Composed bearing: Despite his unremarkable appearance, he carries himself with composure 18.

Personality

Yu Xiaogang takes pride in his theoretical scholarship and values his books as the most precious wealth accumulated over much of his life. He can be generous with that knowledge: he gives Xiaochuan a cultivation route without securing the adoption and later lends him his entire collection despite their disagreement 2 13 15.

His support is complicated by insecurity. He wants Xiaochuan to succeed, yet feels relieved when the child’s rapid advancement stops. Seeing someone with similar disadvantages struggle reassures him about his own limitations. Although he frequently declares that there are no trash Martial Souls, he privately considers both himself and Xiaochuan failures in cultivation 1 3 13.

He is persistent about adopting Xiaochuan, partly because he sees his younger self in the boy and fears growing old alone. His opposition to Spirit Hall also draws on genuine bitterness from his own experiences there. Nevertheless, his certainty that Xiaochuan cannot advance—and his attempt to settle the matter through a wager—turn that concern into a direct confrontation 2 17.

He maintains high standards for prospective students. Even after witnessing Xiaochuan’s victory, he rejects a general teaching position with the statement that he does not teach mediocrities 19.

Abilities & Skills

Luo Sanpao

• Manifestation: Summoned through pale purple light as a plump dog with pale purple fur, four short legs, a tiny tail, azure eyes, and a round bump on his head 18.
• External beast form: Operates outside Xiaogang’s body rather than through conventional Martial Soul Possession 1 18.
• Limited endurance: Can fire only three blasts before returning to Xiaogang’s body; exhausting them leaves Xiaogang depleted 18.
• Combat ceiling: His attacks can handle ten-year Soul Beasts such as Nether Wolves, but have little effect against hundred-year Soul Beasts 18.
• Possession limitation: Unlike Xiaochuan, Xiaogang has not achieved possession with his external beast Martial Soul 10.

Earth-Shattering Luo Sanpao

• Activation: A yellow hundred-year Soul Ring moves onto Luo Sanpao, who leaps into the air and aims his rear at the target 18.
• Effect: Releases a thunderous, foul-smelling blast powerful enough to leave a crater 18.
• Restraint-breaking: One blast frees Luo Sanpao from Caterpie’s Electroweb 18.
• Accuracy limitation: Caterpie avoids the attack through silk-assisted movement, while Xiaochuan dodges it using Martial Soul Possession 18.

Martial Soul Research

• Published theories: His research and publications establish his reputation as Grandmaster 16.
• Martial Soul Mimicry Theory: Proposes that beast Martial Souls can absorb plant Soul Rings. He considers plant rings easier to refine than beast rings, though he presents this as a conjecture when advising Xiaochuan 2.
• Soul Ring recommendations: Suggests poisonous plant Soul Beasts to give Caterpie offensive power, while later recognizing that a nonpoisonous ring could be safer for its fragile constitution 2 3.
• Practical limitations: He is surprised by Electroweb and initially assumes that a child without a Soul Ring cannot use Soul Skills 18.

Soul Power Circulation Route

• Compiled method: Provides Xiaochuan with a route for circulating Soul Power, even after the first adoption attempt fails 2.
• Limited contribution: Xiaochuan uses it during his early cultivation, but the text credits Caterpie’s constant eating—not the exceptional quality of the method—for his rapid growth 2.

Equipment / Items

• Two yellow hundred-year Soul Rings — Shown during his duel with Xiaochuan; the supplied passages demonstrate Earth-Shattering Luo Sanpao but do not identify a second distinct skill 18.
• Personal book collection — Fills two walls and includes works he collected individually and books he authored. Its focus is overwhelmingly Martial Souls and Soul Beasts, with no useful coverage of culture or geography for Xiaochuan’s search 15.

Relationships

• Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan leader — His father, who proposes adopting Xiaochuan to give Xiaogang a successor and someone to support him in old age 2.
• Yu Tianheng — His favorite nephew, who idolizes him. Xiaogang praises Tianheng’s innate rank-nine Soul Power and urges him to cultivate diligently 1 2.
• Yu Xiaochuan — A younger clan relative whom he repeatedly hopes to adopt. Their relationship moves from guidance and shared circumstances to conflict over Spirit Hall, ending in Xiaogang’s defeat under a wager to sever their ties 2 13 15 17 18 19.
• Luo Sanpao — His Martial Soul; Xiaogang’s normally stiff expression warms when looking at him 18.
• Bibi Dong — A figure from his past who retains a strong emotional attachment to him. Xiaochuan’s similar experiences evoke her memories of Xiaogang and influence her decision to nurture and adopt the child 16 17 20.
• Qian Xunji — The former Pope who removed him from Spirit Hall’s rolls 16.
• Nuoding Academy dean — An old friend who comforts him after his defeat and offers him a teaching position, which he refuses 19.
• Erlong — Someone he remembers when reflecting on his past and his diminished desire for romance; the supplied passages do not explain the underlying incident 2.

Notable Quotes

“There are no trash Martial Souls, only trash Soul Masters.” 1

“No. As I've said before, I don't teach mediocrities.” 19