I complained about the new system in the past. But after the listen to rumors was in place once I found a sage I spent over a month real time following the same sage and recording his locations. Now when ever I need a sage I simply go to the half dozen our so regions he travels in, listen for rumors to see if the safe is in an adjacent region and then follow the sage around again.
I have done this for one sage on dwlight and can find him when ever I want with in a day or two. Very handy. You simply have to put in the work taking one for a while.
