If you follow you would be able to upgrade all weapons, and max out all your items, except for Ninpo.

At the chapter where you start to chase Doku's spirit in th maze after you use the griffen key to open the gates, Ayane throws a dagger saying something about using your flail to destroy the ghost fish. Instead of using your flail use the dragon sword, and keep jumping back and forth tapping the (x) button in the air.

The move is called ( air destruction slash ) once all the fish are destroyed just go back to the gate and then head back in all fish would be back, and if you do it right i guarantee you wouldn't loose any life, unlike the flail, because once the combo is done the fish have a chance to attack you, while with this technique they wouldn't and also because jumping around causes Ryu to absorb the yellow essence as soon as they come out, it is alot better than using the flail and then waiting for all the fish to be destroyed and then to get it because by the time there all destroyed most of them would have dissapeared.

I've done it more than once and maxed out everything...

Submitted by torpedo1517

When you first get to the level where you have to chase Doku's spirit, you will need the Griffen Key to get through the gate. Go left and a hallway will be right there. There will be a save point and one of Muramasa's shops. You should have the Armlet of Fortune, which picks up more Gold Essence, equip it. Down the hall,bats will swarm you. By now you should have obtained the True Dragon Sword, and Doku's Ketitsu. Get one out and run over the bats, they will swarm you, occasionally hittng you. Charge the sword you have chosen to max, then release, this will kill all the bats emmiting only Gold Essence.

You will recieve around Three-Hundred Gold Essence, or more. Run back in front of the save point, then run back, the bats have reappeared. When you need health, don't use an Elixer to heal, you run over to the bats and kill all of them with an uncharged attack, this will make Gold and Blue Essence appear.

Submitted by tyler_1108