A Friend Asks by Divination: Can I Clear a Stage in Samurai Shodown in One Go?

　　Gregorian time: 1 January 2016, 17:00

　　Day stems and branches: Yi-Wei · Wu-Zi · Ren-Wu · Ji-You (International I Ching Network)

　　Day xun void: Shen, You (day); Yin, Mao (hour)

　　Yang Dun configuration 1 · Chief Talisman Tianqin falls to Palace 2 · Chief Envoy door falls to Palace 1

┌──────┬──────┬──────┐
│　　九地　　│　　九天　　│　　值符　　│
│　　休门　辛│　　生门　乙│壬　伤门　己│
│　　天辅　辛│　　天英　乙│禽　天芮　己│
├──────┬──────┬──────┤
│　　玄武　　│　　　　　　　│　　螣蛇　　│
│　　开门　庚│　　　　　　　│　　杜门　丁│
│　　天冲　庚│　　　　　壬　│　　天柱　丁│
├──────┬──────┬──────┤
│　　白虎　　│　　六合　　│　　太阴　　│
│　　惊门　丙│　　死门　戊│　　景门　癸│
│　　天任　丙│　　天蓬　戊│　　天心　癸│
└──────┴──────┴──────┘

　　Divination: the hour stem strikes punishment, with repetition above and below, and also meeting door pressure—not just one play; two punishments plus one pressure means three times. The first three attempts cannot clear the stage.

　　Answer: three times, none passed. What characters were used in the three?

　　Divination: Kun palace riding the Talisman, as chief, indicates the first time should use the protagonist. Kan palace takes Six Harmony as Chief Envoy, so the second time should choose a different character; Chief Envoy over Tianpeng is the great thief, so the initially chosen character must be in black clothing or water-related. Later switching back to the protagonist, the third time is again the same character. Tianzhupillar is the Army-Breaker; holding Ding it must be a character with a large blade. Yet Du Door is closed and cut off—in the end the stage cannot be cleared.

　　Answer: first time used the protagonist Haohmaru; he died in the middle. After several continues, in the end he never met Amakusa and died every time at the final Jashin Senjuro. Second time chose Kazuki Kazama and fought all the way to Amakusa in one go; after death switched to Haohmaru, and still all died there. Third time picked Cham Cham and fought all the way to Remu Moon Slash Red郎 (Zankuro Minazuki), then everyone died.

　　Question: If I play once more, can I clear it?

　　Divination: No.

　　Question: That last attempt failed—see what character was chosen?

　　Divination: Tianfu masters civil and refined, with abundant qi; and Xin is a sharp metal object, falling in Xun as long and thin—it must be a long thin sword. Also Xun is the eldest daughter, so it must be a female swordswoman. Only riding Nine Earth above, repetition hard to unfold; riding Nine Earth one cannot clear the stage.

　　Answer: chose Charlotte, and in one go got past Zankuro Minazuki; in the end all died at the protagonist Haohmaru.