Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Appearance

• Hair: Short crew cut 31 45.
• Expression and bearing: A rigid face and a stern, stuffy demeanor; his initial appearance is described as arrogant 31 45.

Personality

Yu Xiaogang places great importance on his reputation as Grandmaster. His authored work, the “Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul Theory,” forms the foundation of his standing, making Shangguan Hong’s abnormal Soul Rings both a challenge to his authority and an opportunity for new research. Upon arriving at Shrek, verifying his theories takes priority over establishing rapport with his students 31 32.

His attachment to Tang San produces pronounced favoritism. He arranges lessons and restricts Shangguan Hong’s abilities partly to establish Tang San as the team’s central figure. His ambition also extends to his family: he wants a disciple he personally trained to defeat Yu Tianheng and prove his worth to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan 33 37 46.

When his arrangements fail, he tends to defend his judgment and shift responsibility. After the Mad Battle Team match, he blames Shangguan Hong for not disclosing his Third Soul Skill, despite never having asked about it. Nevertheless, he eventually begins correcting that omission by asking about Shangguan Hong’s First Soul Skill 41 44 45.

Abilities & Skills

Martial Soul Theory

Yu Xiaogang has studied extensive literature and spent years researching Martial Souls and Soul Rings 32.

• Soul Ring assessment: Estimates Shangguan Hong’s first three rings at over 400 years, just over 1,000 years, and over 4,000 years respectively 32.
• Research focus: Investigates how Shangguan Hong exceeds conventional ring-age limits and hopes to discover a reproducible method 32 54 55.
• Development planning: Proposes a healing-type fourth ring for Shangguan Hong to address the team’s lack of effective injury treatment 54 55.
• Limitations: His initial assumptions about Summoning System Soul Masters fail to account for Shangguan Hong’s physical strength, intelligent summons, and unusual combat power 33 34 35.

Luo Sanpao

Luo Sanpao is Yu Xiaogang’s External Beast Martial Soul. He considers its characteristics partly comparable to the Summoning System and uses that comparison to justify his confidence in assessing Shangguan Hong 33.

• He regards Luo Sanpao as superior to Shangguan Hong’s apparently weak Void Fish 45.
• That judgment underestimates the danger: the narration states that even the Void Fish could easily kill Yu Xiaogang 45.

Teaching & Team Management

Yu Xiaogang directs cultivation, arranges practice battles, and supervises the Shrek Seven Devils’ arena matches 31 33 36.

• Combat drills: Uses individual sparring and two-on-two matches to assess the students 33 35.
• Physical conditioning: Assigns exhausting training and later orders 100 laps around the village while carrying baskets of stones 35 43 44.
• Opponent analysis: Correctly deduces that the team’s upcoming opponents will be the Mad Battle Team 37.
• Command structure: Establishes Tang San as the team’s tactical leader, requiring the others to follow his arrangements 37 45.

History

Tang San’s Teacher

Before appearing in person, Yu Xiaogang directs Tang San toward Shrek Academy. Tang San follows his recommendation despite receiving interest from other intermediate Soul Master academies. Yu Xiaogang also gives him the belt he wears upon arriving in Suotuo City 3.

Arrival at Shrek Academy

Yu Xiaogang arrives after the students return from their expedition to Star Dou Great Forest. Flender introduces him as an old friend and Tang San’s teacher, then gives him full responsibility for the students’ cultivation. Several students remain unconvinced by his reputation, particularly after sensing his comparatively low Soul Power 31.

His attention immediately turns to Shangguan Hong’s yellow-purple-purple Soul Ring configuration. He questions him abruptly, examines the rings at close range, and asks whether a secret method enables him to exceed normal absorption limits 31 32.

Shangguan Hong attributes his results to an unusually strong body, an attributeless Martial Soul, and rings obtained from weak Soul Beasts. Yu Xiaogang cannot identify a theoretical flaw in the explanation, but remains dissatisfied because it offers no readily verifiable breakthrough. He resolves to examine Shangguan Hong’s fourth-ring choice as a test of the claim 32.

First Lessons

For his first lesson, Yu Xiaogang orders Tang San to fight Shangguan Hong, intending to establish his disciple’s superiority and future leadership. He initially forbids Tang San’s Third Soul Skill, then permits it after Shangguan Hong points out their seven-level cultivation gap 33.

The battle exposes weaknesses in his assessment. Shangguan Hong cuts through Blue Silver Grass with his weapon, while Azir and four Sand Soldiers place Tang San under severe pressure. Yu Xiaogang’s expectations about physically frail summoners and the dominance of Control System Soul Masters do not fit the encounter 33 34.

Afterward, he reprimands both students and proposes tactics based on ideal conditions. The students initially recognize that his advice overlooks the summons’ coordination and intelligence, although his persuasive explanation gradually wins some of them over. He follows the sparring with further matches and arduous physical training 35.

Mad Battle Team Match

Before the team’s first arranged arena battle, Yu Xiaogang forbids Shangguan Hong from using his Second Soul Skill and requires all summons to follow Tang San’s commands. His underlying objective is to prevent Azir from dominating the match and overshadowing his disciple 36 37.

The restriction fails to produce the straightforward result he expects. Shangguan Hong’s Third Soul Skill summons Mordekaiser, whose overwhelming strength draws the crowd’s attention instead. When the battle subsequently deteriorates, Yu Xiaogang privately blames Shangguan Hong for withholding information about that ability 39 40 41.

Shangguan Hong also deliberately manipulates the match, shortening his summon’s participation and withholding opportunities to end the danger sooner. Tang San ultimately secures victory and strengthens his leadership position, but the ordeal damages the students’ trust in Yu Xiaogang’s judgment—exactly the result Shangguan Hong wanted 42.

Punishment and Declining Authority

After the victory, Yu Xiaogang orders the students to complete 100 weighted laps. He expects apologies for their conduct and mistakes, but the punishment instead becomes an opportunity for them to discuss his questionable restrictions. Shangguan Hong encourages this discussion while outwardly defending him as an ordinary person whose intentions may have been good 43 44.

Only Tang San steps forward to apologize afterward. When Yu Xiaogang singles out Shangguan Hong for failing to explain his Soul Skills, Ning Rongrong counters that learning the students’ abilities is the supervising teacher’s responsibility. Yu Xiaogang restrains his response to her because of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect’s influence 44 45.

He subsequently confirms Tang San’s command role and asks about Shangguan Hong’s First Soul Skill. Seeing the apparently unimpressive Void Fish reassures him, but the incident leaves the team less trusting of him than he believes 45.

Imperial Fighting Team

Yu Xiaogang accepts the proposed match against the Imperial Fighting Team despite Flender’s initial refusal. Learning that Yu Tianheng leads the opponents gives him a personal incentive: defeating his clan’s young master through his own disciple would validate his teaching and win recognition from his family 46.

Dispute over Shangguan Hong’s Fourth Ring

As Shangguan Hong prepares to obtain his fourth ring, Yu Xiaogang recommends an older healing-attribute ring. The proposal addresses a genuine gap in the team, since Oscar’s sausages are far better at restoring stamina and Soul Power than treating injuries. However, Yu Xiaogang also wants to test his theories and reduce Shangguan Hong’s dominance by moving him partly into a support role 54 55.

Zhao Wuji objects to diverting such a talented fighter’s development. Before the hunt, Yu Xiaogang gives both Zhao Wuji and Shangguan Hong recording stones and requests uninterrupted recordings of the absorption process, still suspecting a concealed method behind the abnormal rings 55.

Shangguan Hong returns reporting a ten-thousand-year Earth Demon Bear ring and level 43 Soul Power. Yu Xiaogang angrily challenges his failure to select a healing-type beast. The discussion also reveals a moment of greed toward a Soul Bone, though Zhao Wuji’s response forces him to suppress it 62.

Blue Tyrant Academy

When Dugu Bo takes Tang San away, Yu Xiaogang and Flender speak with him and obtain a promise that Tang San’s life will be spared 63.

During Tang San’s six-month absence, Liu Erlong gives Blue Tyrant Academy to Flender because she wants to remain with Yu Xiaogang. The institution becomes the new Shrek Academy 65.

Equipment / Items

• Recording stones: Supplies one each to Shangguan Hong and Zhao Wuji to document the fourth-ring absorption process for research 55.
• Belt given to Tang San: An earlier gift that Tang San still wears upon reaching Suotuo City 3.

Relationships

• Tang San — Disciple who regards him almost as a second father. Yu Xiaogang actively promotes his leadership, though the Mad Battle Team incident begins weakening Tang San’s unquestioning faith in his judgment 32 37 41 44.
• Flender — Old friend who entrusts him with the students’ cultivation and repeatedly mediates tense exchanges 31 62.
• Shangguan Hong — Student and research subject whose abilities challenge his theories. Shangguan Hong secretly works to erode his authority and considers eventually killing him once the consequences can be minimized 32 42 54.
• Ning Rongrong — Student who openly criticizes his tactics and challenges his failure to investigate Shangguan Hong’s abilities 44 45.
• Zhao Wuji — Fellow Shrek teacher who rejects his proposed healing-focused development for Shangguan Hong 55.
• Yu Tianheng — Young master of Yu Xiaogang’s original clan; a rival he wants his disciple to defeat as proof of his own worth 46.
• Liu Erlong — Wants to be with him and transfers her academy to Flender during Tang San’s absence 65.