History's Dry Tracks is a Wandering Tales quest in Hexi that starts with Jade Ring in the northwestern edge of Poplar Bazaar, inside Jade Gate Pass.
History's Dry Tracks start point
Jade Ring is in the northwestern corner of Poplar Bazaar near the edge of the map. Speaking to him starts the quest.
The quest takes place in Jade Gate Pass, Hexi, and it stays centered on Jade Ring from start to finish.
What triggers quest progress
Step 1: Speak to Jade Ring and complete the Gift of Gab exchange. After you win, he explains that the missing book could be in Squarewell Hold Ruins, Heroic Tomb, or an Utuk camp in Lost Crossing.
Step 2: Collect the journals tied to those search areas. You can find four books in total, even though only one return is needed to move the quest forward.
Step 3: Go back to Jade Ring in Poplar Bazaar and hand over the books. He will tell you none of them is the missing one, but the quest still advances after that turn-in.
Step 4: Use your equipped Tai Chi Mystic Skill on Jade Ring and throw him. That action makes him remember what happened and tells you to meet him the next day.
Step 5: Change the in-game time forward by one day and talk to Jade Ring again. The quest completes at that conversation.
All journal locations for History's Dry Tracks
| Book | Location | Exact spot | What blocks it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jue's Journal I | Heroic Tomb | Near the lake, on a broken stele in front of hostile flower enemies | Spike traps; wait behind the stele until they stop |
| Jue's Journal II | Squarewell Hold Ruins | Southernmost part of Jade Gate Pass, on a table beside baskets | No special trigger listed |
| Jue's Journal III | Squarewell Hold Ruins | On a box in the corner of a ruined house | No special trigger listed |
| Jue's Journal IV | Lost Crossing | Far north, on a broken cart | Four Utuk Raptors guarding the cart |
What counts as completion
The quest is finished only after the final talk with Jade Ring on the next in-game day. The clearest confirmation is that he gives you the Shazhou Atlas at the end of the exchange.
That reward also unlocks its Erudition entry in the Compendium.
Why History's Dry Tracks may not progress
| Stuck point | What resolves it |
|---|---|
| Jade Ring will not explain the problem | Finish the Gift of Gab encounter first |
| The book search does not move forward | Return to Jade Ring and submit a journal |
| The next clue does not appear after the turn-in | Use the equipped Tai Chi Mystic Skill on Jade Ring |
| The quest still does not end | Advance time by one in-game day and speak to Jade Ring again |
History's Dry Tracks rewards
| Reward | Amount |
|---|---|
| Echo Jade | 25 |
| Hexi Exploration | 25 |
| Enlightenment Point | 200 |
| Coin | 7,500 |
The four journals also tie into Erudition discoveries. Jue's Journal II unlocks Jingyuan Mutiny, Jue's Journal III unlocks Longle and Heavenly Horse, and Jue's Journal IV unlocks The Fifth Road. Each discovered entry gives 2 Echo Jades. Jue's Journal I does not add a Compendium entry.
If your goal is simply to clear the quest as fast as possible, the key sequence is straightforward: beat Jade Ring in Gift of Gab, inspect the journal locations, turn one in, throw him with Tai Chi, then come back after advancing to the next day.