The second prince was feeling a sense of foreboding when he felt the strong fluctuations of true essence coming from Theia. He felt that the disparity between them was so huge that he could not help but swear in his heart.

'Fuck! To think that this woman is so strong! Did she sense the demonic presence of my subordinate? That stupid fool actually pulled out his Shape-Shifting Jade Necklace! Just what could be the reason that made him use his true form? Speaking of which, I saw Young Miss Hestia come out of the store... Perhaps...' Prince Arslan's eyes narrowed when his thoughts reached that point. He glanced at Jiu Shen and thought coldly in his heart. 'Wine Master Jiu, did you already find out my identity?'

Jiu Shen felt the second prince's stare but he ignored him completely. Even if the latter was a demon prince, Jiu Shen didn't give a damn about him. In his opinion, they were just like ants seeking for material things and emotional contentment to feed their ego. In his past life, aside from the three celestial emperors, no one even dared to glance his way...

"Let's go!" The second prince stood up from his seat and issued a command to his subordinates.

The soldiers bowed at Prince Arslan and followed behind him obediently.

The latter walked towards Jiu Shen and gave him a fist-palm salute as a show of respect. "Wine Master Jiu, I really love your wondrous wines and I will surely come to visit here occasionally. I hope you won't deny me entry then." Prince Arslan said with a face full of smiles.

Jiu Shen took a quick glance at the second prince and calmly nodded his head at him.

Seeing the nonchalance of Jiu Shen, the second prince's smile twitched and he could not help but laugh coldly in his heart. 'Jiu Shen, Jiu Shen, Jiu Shen. I'll give the victory to you this time, but once my army arrives at this place, I will remove that arrogance in you!'

Prince Arslan gave Jiu Shen one last look before he turned around and walked away with his subordinates following behind him.

Jiu Shen glanced at his figure with a profound look and said telepathically. "I won't involve myself in the affairs of you demons, but if you dare to mess around inside my store, then I can't promise the same thing."

Prince Arslan's eyes flickered and he stopped in his tracks for a brief moment before he continued walking out of the store with a dubious smile on his face. 'Just you wait, Jiu Shen. Today you win against me, but next time, it will be your turn to lose.'

"Master, that guy is up to no good." Theia muttered coldly as she glared at the receding figure of the second prince.

"It doesn't matter. What can an ant possibly do to us?" Jiu Shen replied in a cold and detached voice before he went to his room upstairs.

Jiu Shen paused his steps for a moment and said without turning his head back. "Once Hestia arrives, bring her to my room immediately."

Theia bowed her head and replied in a respectful voice. "Yes, master."

* * *

An hour later.

In a remote location somewhere in Beltran City.

A middle-aged man with average facial features and was wearing an imperial guard's standard military armor can be seen walking with unsteady steps while clutching his chest. Although he did not have any visible injuries on his body, he appeared to be in extreme pain. His expression contorted that it almost looked inhuman.

"I've already changed my appearance using the Shape-Shifting Jade Necklace. That old fart Duanmu should not be able to identify me now! Fuck! That woman's final attack is so vicious that it left internal injuries in my body! But even so, I was lucky to have escaped from that place..." The man said as he recalled the sword technique that Hestia used. He could not help but shiver as he thought about it. Luckily, he was able to activate his Frenzied Slaughter Body perfectly on time. If he wasn't able to, he didn't dare think about what might have possibly happened to him.

"Balrog... What happened and why are you in this state?" A familiar voice suddenly echoed behind him, surprising the middle-aged man.

He turned around and when he saw the face of the second prince, the middle-aged man immediately knelt down respectfully, ignoring the pain he was feeling. "Your highness, everything should have gone smoothly and I was also about to end the life of that old fart Duanmu. But then, an unexpected guest intervened!"

Prince Arslan's eyes narrowed into slits when he heard those words. "Is it Young Miss Hestia?" He asked with a cold voice. The moment Hestia left the store, he was already feeling suspicious.

It was hard to believe that this man was the same kind and noble second prince that all the citizens revered and admired. Just that, he didn't have his usual gentlemanly facade.

Balrog nodded his head with a look of anger. "Indeed, it's that woman! I didn't expect her to be that strong! I even had no choice but to use my Frenzied Slaughter Body to block an attack from her! But even with that, I still receive heavy internal injuries!"

Prince Arslan's expression became even colder after that. "So that means that old fart has seen your true appearance! What about the fourth prince and fifth princess?"

Balrog was feeling nervous when he felt the second prince's worsening mood, so he immediately answered carefully. "I looked around for my subordinates, but it appears that the little bitch Hestia already helped them escape beforehand!"

"So it's that bitch again, huh?! Rise and recuperate your injuries. For now, let's lay low and avoid clashing with the people from that store. It's not yet time for us to show ourselves and we must not destroy the plans of the Demon Lord! Just let them be for now. The time will come when we will exact our revenge!" Prince Arslan muttered in an icy voice as walked away.

Balrog stood up and followed behind him with a dark look as he recalled Hestia's figure. 'Little bitch, your days are numbered!'