Quest follow the retreating root (solved)

[Minzeis🏳️‍🌈]

I healed coral sites 20/20, saw the merfolks, saw the animation of retreating root, and then had 3 more coral sites cleared and got the new suit from Ling but I still cannot complete the quest. I don't think that I would have to heal all 80(?) coral sites to complete the quest for a reward of 300 bucks..?
Some people say that there is a stairway made of yellow underwater mushrooms to the quest follow the retreated root but I cannot find it. Is this the same quest? If so, where can I find this stairway?
Can someone please provide me some information about how to complete this quest? Thank you

[racbuc2436]

I think the main reward is being able to access the new area to gain new items/kelp to use for upgrades to assist on your farming. You have to clear more of the diving area for new content/story, won't include spoilers.

You can access the map in the menu next to the main map.

2 access point to the 20m-30m diving area, you can see on this map:
Ocean Map [static.wikia.nocookie.net]

Does this help?

[Minzeis🏳️‍🌈]

@racbuc2436 Thank you, the map with names of zones is quite useful. However I'm still interested in how to clear this specific sub-quest called "Follow the retreating roots". Does it simply mean that I have to clear more areas or is there anything else I need to do?

[Piperbird]

You need to clear the root all the way to the Merfolk Kingdom. You are meant to 'follow the retreating root' all the way there.

The coral stairs were removed a couple patches back because people didn't understand they were stairs. Now it's just a boring ramp down to the next level.

[Minzeis🏳️‍🌈]

@Piperbird Thank you so much!! boring ramp XDDD

[Luminous Sidhe]

I've chased this stupid f***ing root all the way back to a set of stairs and now it won't go up the stairs. It's clearly right at the kingdom based off the map, but none of the orbs near it do anything. So it's clearly not just following it and I'm confused on what I'm doing wrong. Healed 32 locations just trying to smash a mermaid 😭

[glitzerpaillette]

Originally posted by Luminous Sidhe:

I've chased this stupid f***ing root all the way back to a set of stairs and now it won't go up the stairs. It's clearly right at the kingdom based off the map, but none of the orbs near it do anything. So it's clearly not just following it and I'm confused on what I'm doing wrong. Healed 32 locations just trying to smash a mermaid 😭

Try to find another way, walking around the edge of the territory you can access. 32 is not enough

[G1ngerF1re]

Originally posted by Piperbird:

You need to clear the root all the way to the Merfolk Kingdom. You are meant to 'follow the retreating root' all the way there.

The coral stairs were removed a couple patches back because people didn't understand they were stairs. Now it's just a boring ramp down to the next level.

I'm not sure of how many coral sites I have healed (I think around 27?). I can't get past the darkest red section directly next to the giant circle (not sure which of those is the orchestra section) and I can only access about half of the seahorse portion. I have cleared EVERY SINGLE piece of trash in these areas in case I was missing something and tried interacting with everything. Am I just dumb, missing something, or is my game broken

EDIT: Just checked, I only have 23. Below is a picture of the ones I can't even get to. The roots are before the coral healing machines, whatever they're called. I couldn't find any orbs even after completely clearing the trash out.
https://1drv.ms/f/c/0ced222d1838f50c/Egz1OBgtIu0ggAyhAwAAAAABOPb7rDH8Eawii0aZqyHHKw?e=J1L3OD

[Piperbird]

Originally posted by G1ngerF1re:

Originally posted by Piperbird:

You need to clear the root all the way to the Merfolk Kingdom. You are meant to 'follow the retreating root' all the way there.

The coral stairs were removed a couple patches back because people didn't understand they were stairs. Now it's just a boring ramp down to the next level.

I'm not sure of how many coral sites I have healed (I think around 27?). I can't get past the darkest red section directly next to the giant circle (not sure which of those is the orchestra section) and I can only access about half of the seahorse portion. I have cleared EVERY SINGLE piece of trash in these areas in case I was missing something and tried interacting with everything. Am I just dumb, missing something, or is my game broken

EDIT: Just checked, I only have 23. Below is a picture of the ones I can't even get to. The roots are before the coral healing machines, whatever they're called. I couldn't find any orbs even after completely clearing the trash out.
https://1drv.ms/f/c/0ced222d1838f50c/Egz1OBgtIu0ggAyhAwAAAAABOPb7rDH8Eawii0aZqyHHKw?e=J1L3OD

It says I don't have permission to view your screen shot. Are you on the discord? We can guide you through in like 2 minutes if you want to post over there.