Ju then sat down cross-legged and began channeling the tempering formula. The tides slowly began to form, consuming the Essence that Ju’s body drew from the surroundings. Ju formed three tides as usual, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not create a fourth tide.

“It seems like the Essence around the inn is just too sparse.” The teenager thought.

Ju began using the tides to grind his fourth node in his glabella. The young boy frowned as he constantly shook the node with the tides, yet there was not even a glimmer of reaction. The node was completely unresponsive; after about 20 minutes, Ju sighed and stopped meditating.

In the end, three tides were not enough to open that node, making it difficult for him to go at it. The pain was still annoying to deal with, although he was able to endure it much more easily now. Ju was starting to feel a bit lost at the moment. Right now, the tempering formula was more or less useless to him, yet his situation was precarious, requiring him to take extra steps.

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The young boy then looked at Moonflower, who was asleep.

She had been sleeping a lot more recently. First, Ju was bothered that it might be because of the drinks, but Moon-Flower quickly assured him that she was fine, stating that she might soon be able to use Essence, which made Ju very happy. The young boy's eyes hardened as he looked at Moon-Flower's peaceful figure. After thinking a bit and calculating the amount of money he had left, Ju quickly decided.

“If I can not strengthen myself with Essence right now, I should look for other ways to boost my survival chances.”

The young boy donned a large cloak and his eye and set out again; as he left, Moon-Flower's eyebrows trembled slightly, but her eyes did not open.

“Brother Ju.” She muttered softly.