Is Shiren the Wanderer all about the meta-game?

I really enjoyed Shiren the Wanderer and I want to like it more. After playing the game for some time, I found myself grinding away to upgrade my shields and weapons using melding jars, and wouldn't progress passed the Stream Village unless I had a warehouse jar. This, I soon found out, wasn't very enthralling and the original appeal of the game seemed to diminish.

I don't seem to make much progress unless I prepare ahead of time. Do I need to keep honing my skills or is the game dependent on continuously upgrading your best gear? Is this a game about the meta-game grind?