That evening.
At sea level.
A small island hung solitary in the vast ocean, surrounded by endless waves, like a corner forgotten by the world.
However, this was the site of the "Abyss Prison," reputed to be the world's most brutal prison.
This was a prison exclusively for martial artists.
It specifically housed extreme martial artists who had committed heinous crimes.
The prison was divided into 18 levels, descending deeper and deeper, with increasingly dangerous criminals confined in the lower levels.
Level 18 of the prison.
A dozen prison guards rode the underwater elevator to this location, their expressions grave.
Leading them was the prison warden, his stern features appearing particularly severe under the dim lighting.
His name was You Mingyuan, only 35 years old yet already at the peak of mid-stage Summit Realm, just one step away from entering the late-stage Summit Realm.
He had been the top genius of the Martial Arts Alliance in his day.
However, at the height of his glory, he chose to enter the Abyss Prison to suppress the criminals.
This decision left many people feeling regretful.
Nevertheless, the results were remarkably effective.
Though the criminals were fierce and evil, they didn't dare to act recklessly in his presence.
You Mingyuan stopped in front of a cell.
He looked seriously at someone lying on the ground inside with half-closed eyes and said in a deep voice, "Song Ming, your sentence is complete. You're being released."
Hearing this.
In the cell, the man called Song Ming slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze was as deep as an abyss, carrying an indescribable pressure.
Clank! Clank!
He slowly stood up from the ground, the chains on his wrists and ankles making crisp sounds.
"Sentence complete?"
Song Ming's voice was deep and hoarse, tinged with mockery: "It's been years since I've heard those words."
"If I remember correctly, you were the one who arrested me. How time flies - you've even become the warden of this place?"
You Mingyuan didn't respond to Song Ming's mockery, only saying coldly, "Song Ming, you violated the laws and regulations of the Martial Arts Alliance back then. Your arrest was justified, but now your sentence is complete, so you can leave."
Song Ming smiled slightly at these words: "Is that so? Have my family members come to receive me?"
"If you mean the Song family, they're already waiting on the island."
"Good."
Upon hearing this, Song Ming walked step by step toward the iron door, and the prison guards all backed away, trying to maintain their distance from him.
The next second.
He merely gave a light squeeze.
Boom!
All the iron chains and restraining devices on his body shattered into powder, and he pushed open the iron door and walked out unimpeded.
"Mmm~"
After comfortably stretching his muscles and bones, he revealed a set of white teeth, smiling at You Mingyuan: "Farewell!"
"I hope so."
You Mingyuan said coldly, then waved his hand: "Take him away."
"Yes!"
As Song Ming departed, the other martial artists on the eighteenth floor all heaved sighs of relief.
"Phew! That bastard is finally gone!"
"Yes! I can finally have some peace and quiet!"
"Damn Song Ming, he pinned me down and forced me to teach him my Bone-Crushing Claw. It was infuriating!"
"Ah, Song Ming obviously entered this prison intentionally. Now that he's learned all our skills and mastered them, the outside world... is going to suffer."
"Indeed, Song Ming's talent was already monstrous, and now that he's learned all our ultimate techniques, his Rakshasa Palace... might really unify the entire martial arts world."
Up on the island.
The Song family had been waiting for a long time.
"Brother!! You're finally out!!"
Song Zihan, the young lady of the Song family, immediately ran over and hugged Song Ming excitedly when she saw him.
Her eyes were red with tears as she choked out: "Six years! Brother, you're finally out!"
Song Ming comforted Song Zihan, smiling: "Zihan has grown up. Be good, let me talk to Father."
"Mm!"
Song Zihan wiped her tears and stepped aside.
Song Ming then looked at his father Song He, who had aged considerably, and his eyes reddened.
He fell to his knees with a thud, struck the ground with his hand, and shouted: "Father! Your son has been unfilial! I let Mother die at the hands of those poisoners back then!"
"Now that I'm out, I will definitely avenge Mother!"
Song He took a deep breath to calm his emotions, nodded, and said in a deep voice: "I've been managing the Rakshasa Palace for you these six years."
"Now... it's time for you, the Rakshasa King, to take over personally."
"Good!"
Song Ming stood up.
Song Zihan came over and held his arm, saying: "Brother, you've been in prison too long, you don't know the current situation."
"The underworld has completely changed. The old criminal organizations have all been absorbed by stronger ones, and our Rakshasa Palace is now in a precarious position, like meat on a chopping block."
"Also... there's an entity in our Jiang City... that could pose a threat to us."
Song Ming listened while frowning, asking: "There's someone in Jiang City who can threaten our Song family? Who?"
"It's the Su family! Not only is their patriarch Su Ba a late-stage Summit Realm expert, but there's also his granddaughter Su Muwan! She's a calculating vixen!"
"Not long ago, she drove Jiang Xueqi, the young lady of the Jiang family, insane, and even got the Divine Doctor to join her forces."
Hearing this.
Song Ming understood, but his expression remained extremely arrogant and disdainful.
He laughed lightly, waving his hand dismissively: "No matter, they're just a bunch of rabble."
"Let alone Summit Realm Su Ba, whom I have strategies to deal with."
"As for this Su Muwan, what does she amount to?"
Speaking thus, he looked at the two members from Cherry Blossom City's underworld standing beside Song He.
He smiled: "You're the Black Dragon Organization members sent to discuss unifying the underworld with me, right?"
"Yes, as expected of the Rakshasa King, you even know about the outside world's developments."
"Hehe, that's because this was already arranged between me and your leader."
"Arranged?"
"Correct!"
Song Ming spoke, his gaze proud as he slightly raised his head: "When the Rakshasa King is released from prison, it will be... the day the martial arts world is unified!"
"!!"
"!!"
Yamada and Nakamura exchanged glances, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.
We only wanted to unify the underworld, but you're directly planning to unify the entire martial arts world?
This... truly worthy of being the man our leader has his eye on.
Song Zihan, seeing her brother so confident, looked even more admiring. She suddenly remembered something and said: "Also, brother, I've fallen for a guy, he's Su Muwan's follower."
"Now that you're out of prison, I'm going to use my own methods to steal him away!"
Hearing this, Song Ming laughed heartily, fondly rubbing Song Zihan's head as he smiled: "Go ahead. If that Su Muwan doesn't know her place..."
His gaze was arrogant as he sneered: "Big brother will cripple her limbs and destroy her dantian, then take her follower and give him to you."
"Brother, you're the best!"
Song Zihan's eyes lit up with joy as she licked her lips.
Hmph! Handsome boy, just you wait, I'm coming for you soon!