The four students, each having had what would equate to the best training environment they could possibly have, and being there for an incredible length of time. One of them, the youngest of them to be specific, looked around the room and back to me, where the portal disappeared.
"Master, I…" The youngest of the four started to speak. He wasn't much younger than the other three, but enough that others could tell at a glance. "How long has it been since we went into your small universe?" He asked, barely managing not to stammer.
"Oh, according to how much time passed out here? You were in there for about half a breath's time." I answered with a chuckle.
The look of shock on the four disciples' faces was utterly priceless. Each wore a look as if they were attempting to calculate the incalculable… And then they all gulped in unison.
"Young Palace Master, why is it that they look so surprised?" The youngest, and also least experienced manager asked with an abundance of curiosity.
"That's because they just got roughly 5000 years of training in that same time. The mark I gave them has two purposes, the first was to keep them in there and unassuming until it was time to come out. The second, well… I'm sure they feel it for themselves now." I smirked, holding up a finger as I explained.
"5000! You said 5000 years! In just half a breath!!!" All the managers shouted, each expressing differing levels of shock.
The youngest manager looked at my four students, each of these managers still wearing a dumbfounded look. My students looked at me and noted my permission to confirm it.
"Yes, Master tells the truth, we did experience 5000 years of training." The eldest student confirmed, causing a whisper meeting among the total of 20 wives among them and their husbands, my students.
"But, weren't we together for way more than that?" One of the wives asked. "I mean, I'm the latest addition to our family and friends, and I know I've been held by my husband for more than 5000 years." She continued.
"Don't worry, Master is just trying to keep their shock to a minimum. He doesn't want them to faint right now. We all know it was almost 50,000 years we spent inside that paradise. But if we say that, then the managers will be out of commission for a while, causing Master more work." One of the middle two students answered, keeping his cool.
"I had a feeling it was something like that. It's hard to tell exactly, but the Master always has a reason to do the things he does. Such a powerful man… And to think I'm like a martial daughter in law." Another of the wives said, blushing as she did.
"Yeah, I knew he was mighty, but after living in that world for that long… I feel like no matter how strong I get, I'd be lucky to be a drop in the endless ocean in comparison." The other of the two middle students added. "It really is an honor to have been blessed with such abilities. It makes me feel a heavy responsibility to wield them for good as well. To wield them the way he would." He added.
"Alright, that's enough praise for your master. The four of you should go and begin your work. As for the other matter you have definitely learned of now, I want you to take turns. You can decide among yourselves, or I could decide the order for you. Which will it be?" I said, waving my hand to get the four to stop.
"Hmm, Master, I think we should let the youngest go first. But we should probably help to curb that resource issue you talked about earlier. Perhaps after a month or so, we can begin the cycle? I doubt it will take any of us long at all." The eldest of the four students suggested.
"That's a good idea, senior brother. This will help to halt the resource issue and allow us to all begin on…" The second eldest started and looked at his wives who knew exactly what he was thinking. "Tending to our wives' needs." He added with a warm and telling smile.
"I have no issue with this plan. If I'm right about this, It won't take any of us brothers longer than a couple weeks to finish that process either. Not with such a great boon we received just a moment ago." The second youngest expressed his agreement.
"I may take a little longer than my senior brothers, but I don't mind being first…" The youngest said, a little hesitant to accept it.
The eldest let out a laugh. "Don't worry, your foundation is a little better than ours is. This will give us a little more to catch up in that regard. We know that you won't let our Master's gift go to waste." He said, with a reassuring smile. "And remember, we're Master's Disciples now. We can't let old fashioned ideas keep us down. But if you want to keep it that way, then think about it like this: If you go first, then that means the rest of us are holding down the fort to support you, just like a senior brother should." He explained.
"Alright then, I'll go first. And I won't miss a single bit of the power gained either." The Youngest said with a determined look on his face. He held the deepest respect towards his elders. While the others held a deeper respect for those younger. After all, their Master wasn't even 200 years old, yet had them so out matched that the thought of comprehending such power was impossible.
"Good, now you four may go. You may use the rooms granted for your work to live in for the time being. Your desiccated junior manager will be in charge of finding you a respectable peak to live on. Your wives may tag along with them for as long as needed, should you see a reason for that. In a month's time, you'll have your own homes and Star Boundary will visit you individually. So be prepared." I instructed, and the 24 people left, with a junior manager showing them the way to their new place.