Silliness around Sacrificial Heart and the transition to Cruel

I've been carrying around Sacrificial Heart for a few zones, having no idea where the right altar would be. When I went to Cruel difficulty, I realized I missed it somewhere, so I searched online until I found the info.

So after I reached Clearfell I used the waypoint to go back to Zig Encampment, and went through the Gateway thinking it would take me to 400 BC. But I landed back in Cruel. From there, the town portal didn't take me to Clearfell, instead it took me back to the Zig Encampment. So I tried to go to the waypoint there, but the waypoint was gone/disabled in that version. So I had to go back to Cruel.

Now I have to fight my way to Clearfell again, and I guess I'll use the waypoint to try again?

Feels like I'm caught in a loop.