Seeing the allied armies unite and advance toward Shu Family Island, Shu Tianhao made his deployments. He appointed Chu Yun commanding general, with Jin Bihan and Wu Datou as his deputies, and stationed them on Iron Cage Island to defend it.
He also secretly appointed Yan Que a thousand-man commander, placing him in command of the Eagle Soaring and a dozen or so other warships. They formed an interception fleet and circled around to the enemy rear, seeking to disrupt their supplies.
He himself guarded the main Shu Family Island, training bitterly day and night to raise the Azure Sea Dragon's cultivation as much as possible. He drilled the Copper Bell Elite Soldiers, determined to field another army in the shortest possible time.
Iron Cage Island was a town-grade island several hundred nautical miles directly ahead of the main Shu Family Island. Its mountainous terrain made it easy to defend and difficult to attack. It was a famously perilous stronghold in the All-Star Archipelago.
With Chu Yun commanding and Jin Bihan and Wu Datou serving as his deputies, they guarded the island with the treasure ship Fierce Fang, several dozen warships, several hundred armored assault boats and assault skiffs, as well as 5,000 regular troops and 500 Copper Bell Elite Soldiers.
The Iron Family, Hua Family, Ma Family, Ning Family, Yan Family, Duan Family, Sha Family, Shen Family, Yuan Family, Wang Family, Tang Family, and Xu Family-twelve factions in all-joined forces. Their army numbered tens of thousands, with over a dozen generals, two giant warships, five treasure ships, three great Fujian ships, two tower ships, and countless ordinary warships. With banners, war drums, blades, spears, and elite soldiers, their imposing army rolled toward Iron Cage Island.
"What a mighty stronghold! Iron Cage Island certainly deserves its far-reaching fame!" As the