"The greatest treachery masks itself as loyalty, the greatest evil as goodness. The more there seems to be no problem, the more it proves there is something suspicious. If the Dajue Temple was truly just opening its doors to recruit disciples, why set a rule that they must return at fifteen? Don't you feel that the Dajue Temple has spent so many resources, organizing all of Qinghepu, just to raise these people to help themselves mass-produce six-year-olds?"

With Xia Chuan's reminder, Xu Ning was evidently much more clear-headed than the five others. He paused and continued with a heavy expression, "Take Lower River Village, for example. We've stayed here for just half a year, and they have nearly four thousand newborns. Almost every day, more than twenty babies are born, and there is almost no significant change among adults. You should've noticed that throughout Lower River Village, you can't find a child between six and fourteen years old."

Think about it; based on what we've seen in the last six months, how many children has Dajue Temple taken from Lower River Village over the past seven years?"

This number can't be calculated normally, but the population structure of Lower River Village is so stable with almost no change in adults, making it easier to deduce.

Seven years is not a long time span; most women's fertility can be maintained. Lower River Village currently has seventeen thousand households, and like other camps in Ice Abyss, the elderly make up less than 10% of it.

"The first batch of children taken seven years ago, based on the current population structure, I estimate to be around two thousand. In the following five years, it's roughly this number each year.

But starting from last year, things changed. The frenzy among the women of Lower River Village to have children started seven years ago when Dajue Temple came. I estimate that at least twelve thousand were taken last year; the number at the beginning of this year will only be higher. As for next year, during the first half of the year, I roughly observed the village; by February next year, the number of children turning six will be at least fifteen thousand."

Seven years ago, when Dajue Temple first arrived in Qinghepu, the women of Lower River Village began a childbirth frenzy. Thus, the first batch of collectively born children turned six last year, which is why the numbers surged starting last year.

This speculation was made by the young man on the left among the two.

Xu Ning listened, looking at the person with a hint of admiration on his face.

"Xiang Liang estimates similarly to me, which means that just the Lower River Village alone sent at least thirty-five thousand children to Dajue Temple in the past seven years. And that's just from Lower River Village. Across the three villages and eighteen families in Qinghepu, how many have you calculated in total over these seven years?"

Gulp......

Upon hearing this, the five below did some calculations and looked completely shocked.

"At least over one hundred and fifty thousand. And of those sent, the only ones who could return were those they refer to as the Bhikkhu with Hair from Lower River Village, just five people each year. Over the past seven years, a total of only thirty-five across the three villages and eighteen families, barely a fraction. From the information we've gathered, do you think that once the first batch of children turns fifteen, if Dajue Temple doesn't send them back, what reaction would the people of Lower River Village have?"

Xiang Liang, recalling what he had seen and heard in Lower River Village, said solemnly, "Whenever Dajue Temple is mentioned, not a single person in Lower River Village, from top to bottom, doesn't show fanaticism. I suspect that even if Dajue Temple asked them to die, they would do so without hesitation. If they casually made up a reason that the children couldn't return, they would likely believe it unconditionally, without any reaction at all."

A mother who can send her child, whom she carried for ten months and painstakingly raised to six years old, elsewhere without ever seeing them again, is already committing an act against human nature. If not for a fanatical belief in Dajue Temple, how could the people of Lower River Village do such a thing?

The so-called return at fifteen is a mere empty promise. Whether or not it is fulfilled entirely depends on Dajue Temple. What happens to those children once they reach Dajue Temple is now unknown.

"If, as the Minister predicts, Dajue Temple is related to Deceitful Monsters, then these children likely met with misfortune long ago. The most crucial thing now is to find out what Dajue Temple is doing with these children..."

Xu Ning pondered deeply, his expression extremely grave.

The Deceitful Monsters that the Great Xia previously encountered simply preyed on humans to evolve and boost their strength. But Dajue Temple, seemingly requiring only six-year-old children and specifically manipulating humans to mass-produce children for them, is clearly more complex.

"Sir, are you still unwilling to leave Lower River Village?"

Bai Shanqiu, in his old age, had not lost his skill in reading people; he had long seen through Xu Ning's plans.

It was Xia Hong's order that he brought back, which clearly instructed Xu Ning to withdraw from Lower River Village and cease contact with Dajue Temple.

By saying so much now, Xu Ning simply didn't want to leave so quickly and wanted to stay in Lower River Village to gather more intel. But by doing so, he was disobeying the Lord's command, which was his dilemma at the moment.

Upon seeing Xu Ning nod, Bai Shanqiu was momentarily silent, just about to speak when Xiang Liang interjected.

"Sir, you should first take your people back to Wuyuan. Let me stay on here!"

Hearing Xiang Liang's words, Bai Shanqiu looked slightly stunned.

The other three, including Xu Ning, immediately turned to look at the young man, each with varying degrees of surprise flickering on their faces.

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