I've activated each statue shown on the map and every path forward is blocked by black thorny vines.
#Cannot progress ocean cleanup - stuck at C rank.
steady cosmos
azure temple
Sometimes you have to get super close to the "retreating roots" for them to begin to despawn. I know it's a dumb question, but have you gotten literally as close as you can to them to see if they retreat or not. I've had quite a few that didn't begin to retreat till I was "hidden" in them, was a pain to figure out if I did something wrong. If you did, then you can comment on those with the same issue in #1105382785826443264
wraith sage
Ig weiss
graceful timber
I've activated each statue shown on the map and every path forward is blocked by...
Just go towards where your line is on the left of the map (towards the skeletons). Those are the roots you have to follow. Just get up close and personal to them.