Success is 99% effort and 1% talent; this was Edison's famous quote from his previous life.
But there's another line: sometimes that 1% of talent plays a decisive role.
Eating and sleeping, then sleeping and eating, that's what pigs do.
But if you have Dragon bloodline, even if it's very thin, eating and sleeping, then sleeping and eating, that's how you can grow stronger!
However, Naisade stated that he was a Dragon who had risen above base desires; he wanted to work hard.
His younger siblings were 1% lying flat and 99% talent.
So he was 1% talent plus 99% effort, and of course, an additional 900% cheat.
Gluttony allowed him to devour all things. Currently, he only knew that devouring Magic Beasts could grant him skills and talents, but what if he devoured some magic-rich plants?
After the two young Dragons ate their fill and went to sleep, Naisade got up and left the nest.
He needed to explore the outside world.
This was the Rotten Scale Swamp, where small puddles and mud were everywhere, the jungle was so dense it blocked out the sky, sunlight was rarely seen year-round, and it was shrouded in miasma.
This territory wasn't actually good; the natural energy was relatively weak. Only Dragon species like Black Dragons, who preferred damp and dark environments, would choose to build their nests here.
The strength of Dragons was usually tied to their age.
And his Dragon Mother was only a young Dragon less than 200 years old, so it was understandable for her to build a nest in such a place.
Stepping on rotten leaves and mud, he observed the surrounding terrain.
The Dragon Mother had built the nest in a river valley, so Naisade found a river not far from the nest.
The river flowing through here was slow, with gentle currents. According to his geographical knowledge from his previous life, some heavier metals and stones would deposit here.
So if there were any precious ores or gems, they were likely to be washed into this area.
Naisade walked along the riverbed. Although Dragons typically ran on all fours, as a human in his previous life, he was still accustomed to standing and walking on two legs.
Anyway, he had no wings, and walking on two legs freed up his hands.
This place was shrouded in poisonous miasma year-round, and Naisade, with his Black Dragon bloodline, had strong resistance to toxins.
While he wouldn't get poisoned, if he couldn't see the riverbed under his feet, how could he search for treasure?
Things had to be done step by step. Treasure hunting might require some preparation.
As he walked, he suddenly saw something glowing on a withered tree nearby.
Approaching it, he discovered it was a plant, somewhat resembling a lantern.
Upon closer inspection, he found it was actually a sac-like fungus, its surface covered in phosphorescent spots, and its hollow interior filled with the sweet, cloying scent of decaying fruit.
Naisade, of course, didn't know what this thing was or what it was for, but it didn't matter; he'd know once he ate it.
"Whether it's fragrant or foul, it's meat once it's in your mouth. Let's do this, brothers!"
Naisade tore off a large piece and threw it directly into his mouth.
The outer skin tasted a bit like rotten apple peel, and the inner juice was the source of the sweet, cloying scent of decaying fruit.
It was very sweet and fragrant, but he felt his body starting to tingle.
【Consumed 'Paralysis Lantern Fungus', Paralysis Resistance +1, Poison Resistance +1】
"Uh, this thing seems to be poisonous..."
Naisade swallowed, deciding not to care; he had already eaten it.
Naisade found that after eating this thing, the numbness and discomfort in his body gradually dissipated. Seeing no other abnormalities, he began to feast.
However, unfortunately, no matter how much he ate, it only provided one attribute bonus.
Naisade walked and ate, carrying a pile of lantern fungi in his arms, almost unable to hold any more.
Naisade paused and began tearing vines from a tree, preparing to weave himself a back-basket.
His Dragon claws had become somewhat sharp, easily cutting through the vines.
However, he suddenly discovered that his claws could retract and extend freely, just like a feline's claws.
"Could this be a beneficial effect from eating the Magic Tiger?"
This was excellent; it was equivalent to freeing up his hands, which would greatly increase his efficiency in both tool making and activities.
Then, Naisade, full of joy, found his weaving skills to be a disaster; he almost wrapped himself into a zongzi. With a roar, he directly tore the vines Entanglement around his body to shreds.
"Damn it!"
Naisade angrily threw the vines on the ground. This thing was too hard to weave!
He had no experience weaving this, so he could only sigh and throw down the vines in his hand, preparing to give up.
However, just then, a blood-red, spiky vine beneath his feet suddenly shot out, tightly coiling around Naisade's body, then violently dragging him into the bushes.
When Naisade reacted, a giant pitcher plant appeared before him. This pitcher plant was over three meters tall, and its mouth was lined with jagged, tooth-like serrations.
The vine dragged Naisade and directly threw him into the pitcher plant, where Naisade's body was submerged in a puddle of unknown liquid.
The serrated lid snapped shut the next second.
This plant was called the Bloodvine Symbiotic Pitcher; it was a symbiotic plant, with the vine and the pitcher plant having a symbiotic relationship.
The vine would drag prey into the pitcher, and after the digestive fluid broke it down, the nutrients would be shared equally between the two.
If a human or other creature accidentally entered here, they would instantly be flayed by this highly corrosive solution.
No matter how much the human struggled and screamed, the Dragon lid above would never loosen.
Then they would die in painful torment, decomposing into nutrients.
However, Naisade had the bloodline of a Black Dragon, so his poison and corrosion resistance were already very high.
Naisade was trapped inside the pitcher, looking bewildered. Half his body was submerged in the highly corrosive solution, but aside from feeling a bit itchy, it couldn't harm him at all.
He lowered his head, gazed at the corrosive solution, took a sip, and even smacked his lips twice.
"It's astringent, yet a little sweet, and a bit spicy going down the throat, kind of like fruit-flavored soda..."
After making his assessment, he immediately opened his mouth wide and directly poured the corrosive liquid into his stomach.
【Drank 'Bloodvine Symbiotic Pitcher' Blood Nectar, Corrosion Resistance +1, Poison Resistance +1, Short-term Wound Healing Ability +20%】
"Hah... *burp*..."
It felt so good!
The corrosive liquid in this plant was actually a sweet, red nectar. Alchemists could use it to refine healing potions.
Of course, it had to be processed, otherwise it would corrode the intestines and stomach.
Naisade, having finished the nectar, let out a satisfied burp, and his Dragon claw clenched upwards.
"Rising Dragon Punch!"
He punched the lid off, slowly climbed out, and looked at the pitcher plant before him.
Wasn't this just a giant natural backpack?
He directly peeled it off.
Naisade suddenly felt a sharp pain in his leg; it was the Bloodvine. The Bloodvine was covered in sharp thorns that had scratched his foot.
The pitcher and the Bloodvine had a symbiotic relationship; if one died, the other wouldn't fare well either.
"I almost forgot about you, hey. Since we're family, we should stay together."
He directly broke off the vine, stripped off the thorns, and tied the pitcher plant to himself.
A pure, natural, green, and harmless backpack was now complete!