Can you achieve the best ending in DS3 without dying once?

I am currently doing my first DS3 playthrough, and I generally try to complete these kinds of games without dying once. So far I am doing fine, but a friend told me that to achieve the best ending it is actually necessary to die.

Can somebody confirm this and give more info on it without too many spoilers?

I only beat the first couple bosses so far and want to keep it a blind playthrough.