They all call me Great Master

"Could 'Theofact Psychic Cultivation Association' be fraudsters?"

Arthur stroked his chin, revealing an amused smile.

You know, there were rumors that 'Theofact Psychic Cultivation Association' was also a continuation of the 'Tower of Mist' faction, and even that it was a direct lineage of that 'White Robe'.

And as everybody knows, that 'White Robe' was a follower of 'The Light' and the kindest-hearted among the four Wizards of the 'Tower of Mist'.

Before, Arthur would just look at such rumors and move on.

After all, although rumors were a bit different from gossip, they were in some ways far more potent, particularly as time passed by. Rumors would ferment just like gossip, becoming more and more exaggerated and unreliable, until they bore no resemblance to the truth.

It was like the saying:

There once was a divine bird, wearing rainbows, able to speak human language.

After some time, another line was added: It could discern good and bad fortune.

After some more time, another line was appended: It understood the nature of good and evil.

And after yet some more time, one more line was added: Eating it granted eternal youth and life.

String it all together, and you get: There once was a divine bird, wearing rainbows, able to speak human language, discern good and bad fortune, understand the nature of good and evil, and eating it granted eternal youth and life.

All together, it sounded quite believable.

A bird that could talk like a person, isn't that amazing?

It could even determine one's destiny of good and evil, that's even more incredible.

Eating it to live forever, that seems plausible enough.

With each new layer of myth, the parrot is utterly bewildered.

The parrot would die without ever knowing it had such powers.

It would die with its eyes wide open.

But the people around didn't know, right? They kept eating parrots, and after eating, they would live forever. But immortality is not the same as invincibility from death.

So, those who hadn't had a taste, had to kill those who did.

Over time, everyone who had eaten was dead, and the parrots became extinct. Those remaining scoffed at this old saying, yet mixed with a hint of longing.

Of course, there were also those who ate the parrot and hid away in the mountains and forests, escaping death.

These were most likely the saddest cases.

Because they all died of old age or sickness in the end.

Right before dying, they would still cry out, 'I ate it! I shouldn't die!'

But no one could hear them.

And so, they all died.

That's the 'charm' of rumors.

As a qualified 'Spirit Medium,' Arthur was keenly aware of how terrifying this 'charm' could be, which was why he always remained cautious in the face of rumors.

Unless, of course, he could see some concrete evidence.

Just like now—

[Secret technique discovered: Distortion]

[Judging secret technique Distortion…]

[Having 'Power of Death' judgment passed!]

[Lacking 'Force of Life' judgment failed!]

[Unable to learn Distortion!]

...

Among a series of textual prompts, Arthur's gaze lingered on the 'Force of Life' line—everyone knows that 'White Robe' was a follower of 'The Light,' and the most direct proof was that 'White Robe' created the awe-inspiring 'Healing Art'!

A secret technique centered around the 'Force of Life'.

It was precisely because of this technique that The Holy Court extended an olive branch to that 'White Robe'.

All of this was explicitly documented.

But, this documentation definitely did not include the secret technique: [Distortion].

Especially not the fact that [Distortion] was a secret technique and not a ritual!

And that the secret technique [Distortion]…

Required 'Force of Life'!

Putting all these factors together, Arthur couldn't help but think harder about it.

After all, if [Distortion] were a 'Ritual,' then given the original rituals of that 'White Robe,' this stark contradiction would have meant certain oblivion, even if the 'White Robe' had already 'Ascended.'

Moreover, the stronger the power, the quicker the 'White Robe' would die!

But if it were a secret technique, that was a different story altogether.

```

There was a lot of room for interpretation.

Arthur unconsciously looked toward the "Twist of Fate."

'Until the end of the Empire, someone unearthed it and used it as a base to create the original Theofact Psychic Cultivation Association.

And it was at this time that it came to be known as "Twist of Fate."'

Arthur recalled this passage in the "Twist of Fate," his speculations becoming clearer in his mind.

'Distortion?

What could be more twisted than the opposing change of life and death?

This kind of transformation brought about a distortion that was almost a complete change!

No wonder it's called the "Twist of Fate"!' he couldn't help but think.

Clearly, that someone was very likely the 'White Robe.'

As for whether the other party could live that long?

Glast could live for over a hundred years, still looking as if he was in his early twenties.

For the 'White Robe,' wanting to live a bit longer, naturally, there was no problem at all.

However, this raised interesting questions about the 'White Robe's' initial intent when creating the Theofact Psychic Cultivation Association.

The Theofact Psychic Cultivation Association was not an organization recognized by the masses.

Although it was marginally better than the universally condemned Death Poetry Society and Pale Hand, it was only slightly so, because—the Theofact Psychic Cultivation Association not only specialized in the distortion of the living's thoughts but also had a propensity for corpse research.

'Could it be that his personality was twisted after coming into contact with the "Twist of Fate"?' Arthur guessed to himself.

This possibility was not nonexistent.

On the contrary, it was quite likely.

'This 'White Robe' accidentally discovered the original 'Splendor of Theofact,' dug it out, and upon curiosity, started researching it, then, as the research deepened, although he created the secret technique "Distortion," his personality also became twisted, and the originally intact 'Splendor of Theofact' ended up damaged after numerous studies.

To honor the name 'Theofact,' the 'White Robe' created the Theofact Psychic Cultivation Association.

Similarly, to witness his own creation of the secret technique, the 'White Robe' renamed 'Splendor of Theofact' to "Twist of Fate"...'

Arthur speculated, but his brows slightly furrowed.

Because there was one point that didn't make sense.

Although the "Twist of Fate" was damaged, it could still be used.

And such a prop with profound commemorative significance should not be discarded carelessly.

So—

Either, the 'White Robe' had died.

Glast had discovered the "Twist of Fate" by accident.

Or...

Glast had been used as a pawn by someone.

And with the 'White Robe's' capabilities, the likelihood of the latter increased vastly.

If Glast had really been used as a pawn by the 'White Robe,' that would imply that the 'Seven Years' War' could very well have been instigated by him.

As for his reasons to stir up the 'Seven Years' War'?

Besides his own distortion.

It must also be related to 'Ascend Step.'

Not the 'Ascend Step' used to 'lure' Glast, but the possibility of going further after reaching a certain level of 'Ascend Step.'

'Hiss!

What a terrifying 'White Robe'!

How many died in the 'Seven Years' War'?

One million?

Or two million?'

Arthur thought to himself, subconsciously glancing at the corpse version of Glast.

For a moment, the young Spirit Medium didn't know what to make of Glast anymore.

In the end, he decided to take it as a lesson.

Of course, to better hone his own ability to discern others, so that the young, upright, simple, and kind him wouldn't be deceived by others.

Arthur picked up the book that recorded the secret technique "Distortion" and gently flipped through its pages.

```